Ruger’s black powder hog leg: The Old Army
Most firearms companies specialize in either black powder guns, or modern smokeless powder guns. A notable example of one that dallies in both ponds is Sturm, Ruger, who have long-produced a black powder version of their M77 bolt action rifle (the 77/50) as well as an excellent reboot of a Union Army service revolver from the Civil War period– the Old Army.
The Remington Daddy
During the US Civil War, more than two million Americans were called volunteered for or called to the service of their state, territory, or country. They were armed with any number of weapons including muskets, carbines, shotguns, pistols, pikes, lances, sabers and of course, revolvers. One of the most common Union revolvers encountered during and after the war was the Remington 44. Also known as the Remington Model of 1858, they were produced by Eliphalet Remington & Sons, in Ilion, New York from a patent by Fordyce Beals between 1862-1875.
The author’s Remington New Army, complete with both U.S. and (likely Bannerman-applied) Confederate markings.
Several versions of the Remington 1858 were produced with the 1863-vintage New Model Army being the most popular. The New Model Army has an 8-inch barrel, a new front sight, a low spur trigger, larger loading lever and a cylinder pin that was held by two pins. The New Model Army, with its solid top strap was one of the most powerful and rugged performers of its day and outlasted many of its competitors.
Loading one of these revolvers was a chore, with each cylinder needing to be filled in turn with charge of black powder, a ball, and a wad– then primed with a cap to enable it to ignite on fall of the hammer. The whole affair needed to be cleaned off to make sure random bits of powder did not ignite the other chambers when one was struck, a disaster known as “chain fire” which was often terminal for the revolver and dangerous to the firer.
While a gunfighter or soldier could carry a second, loaded cylinder, this was impractical and most who anticipated a close-in fight with multiple adversaries would often carry a second revolver. In fact, William Quantrill and other infamous Confederate Missouri raiders carried as many as a dozen cap and ball revolvers as it was far easier to tug out another six-shooter than to reload an exhausted one.
Quantrill Raider George Maddox shown in his fine hat and boots– and a pair of captured Remington New Army revolvers (note he has at least three other small revolvers tucked). He survived the war, worked as a prison guard and railwayman, and died in Missouri in 1906. Photo by the Library of Congress
More than 132,000 of these New Army revolvers were made (as well as another 100,000 of the other Remington 1858 models). Of course, not all of these went to the Union Army (some were captured and reused by the boys in gray) and after the war a number were made for the Armies of the Tsar, the Mikado of old Japan, the King of England, and the Republic of Mexico, remaining in production until 1875. They were found in US service as late as the Plains Indian Wars and even carried by some volunteers as late as the Spanish American War.
By the turn of the century with inexpensive Iver Johnson and Savage cartridge handguns available, those New Armies that were not converted to cartridge cylinder guns were going for just a handful of Buffalo Nickels. Today they are incredibly collectable.
Then, in 1971, Bill Ruger went for his reboot….Enter the Old Army
The author’s 1998-vintage Ruger Old Army in .457BP with 7.75-inch barrel. The gun is a massive three-pounder that is almost 14-inches long
