Firearms of the American West 1866-1894

1096 Pages·1998·33.6 MB·English

by  Louis A. Garavaglia

title: Firearms of the American West, 1866-1894
author: Garavaglia, Louis A.; Worman, Charles
publisher: University Press of Colorado
isbn10 | asin: 0870814664
print isbn13: 9780870814662
ebook isbn13: 9780585098388
language: English
subject Firearms--West (U.S.)--History.
publication date: 1997
lcc: TS533.2.G36 1997eb
ddc: 683.4
subject: Firearms--West (U.S.)--History.
Page iii
Firearms of the American West
18661894
Louis A. Garavaglia
Charles G. Worman
University Press of Colorado
Page iv
Copyright © 1997 by the University Press of Colorado
Copyright © 1985 by the University of New Mexico Press
Published by the University Press of Colorado
P.O. Box 849
Niwot, Colorado 80544
All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing
enterprise supported, in part, by Adams State College, Colorado State
University, Fort Lewis College, Mesa State College, Metropolitan
State College of Denver, University of Colorado, University of
Northern Colorado, University of Southern Colorado, and Western
State College of Colorado.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements
of the American National Standard for Information Services
Permanence of paper for Printed Library Materials. ANSI Z39.48-
1984
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Garavaglia, Louis A., 1940-
Firearms of the American West, 18661894 / Louis A. Garavaglia,
Charles G. Worman.
p. cm.
Reprint. Originally published: Albuquerque, N.M.: University of
New Mexico Press, 1985.
ISBN 0-87081-466-4
1. Firearms . . . West (U.S.) . . . History. I. Worman, Charles, 1933-
II. Title.
TS533.2.G36 1997
683.4'0978 . . . dc21
97-34522
CIP
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Page v
CONTENTS
PREFACE vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix
PART I: Military Arms 3
CHAPTER 1: Long Arms 7
Breech-Loading Infantry Arms: The Springfields of 1865
and 1866 The Springfields of 1868 and 1870 versus the
Remington, the Sharps, and the Ward-Burton Cavalry
Carbines: The Spencer, the Sharps, and Others
The Springfield .4570s of 1873 . . . New Single-Shot
Springfields, Repeating Rifles, and Shotguns The High-
Velocity, Small-Bore Rifle
CHAPTER 2: Handguns 69
Percussion versus Cartridge Revolvers The Colt and
Smith & Wesson .45s Nonstandard Handguns and
Cartridges The .38s
PART II: Civilian Arms 99
CHAPTER 3: Rifles 103
Muzzle-Loaders War-Surplus Breechloaders The Spencer
and the Henry The First Winchester Single-Shot Rifles:
The Ballard, the Springfield, and Others The Sharps and
Its Cartridges The Remington Rolling-Block More
Single-Shot Rifles New Repeating Rifles: The
Winchester, Marlin, and Others Improved Single-Shot
and Double-Barreled Rifles The 1886 Winchester and the
Ascendancy of the Repeater
CHAPTER 4: Shotguns 223
Muzzle-Loaders Early Breechloaders and Repeaters
Improved Breechloaders Advanced Repeaters
CHAPTER 5: Handguns 253
Percussion Pistols and Revolvers Multi-Shot Pocket
Pistols for Metallic Cartridges Breechloading Derringers
Evading the Smith & Wesson Design: Front-and Side-
Loading Cartridge Revolvers
Page vi
Large-Frame Rimfire and Centerfire Revolvers: Smith &
Wesson,
Remington, and Colt More Colts and Smith & Wessons,
and New
Pocket Revolvers New Competitors: The Merwin &
Hulbert, and
Others The Predominance of the Colt and the Smith &
Wesson
PART III: Indian Arms 351
CHAPTER 6: Postwar Indian Guns 355
Percussion Arms Metallic-Cartridge Arms The Use of
Older Arms Alongside the Newer
NOTES 381
BIBLIOGRAPHY 399
INDEX 407
Page vii
PREFACE
Between 1865 and 1900 the American frontier changed radically. In
the pre-Civil War period, threats to the white frontiersman came most
often from Indians or wild animals, and less frequently from other
settlers. Certainly there were exceptions to this; the violence in
California during the gold rush is but one example. Yet prior to 1865
the vast expanse between the Missouri River and the West coast was
largely a void, inhabited principally by Indians, bears, and wolves.
After 1865 all this began to change. Great numbers of settlers pushed
toward the sunset, often following course pointed out by the iron
fingers of the new Pacific-bound railroads. And as the numbers of
westerners grew, so did violence. Now, increasingly, white clashed
with white: the lawful clashed with the lawless. Peace officers and
judges were few and far between, and even when they were within
reach, frontier dwellers often chose to dispense justice themselves. As
a ranch foreman in central Texas stated in 1879: "The fear of the law
is not half so great as the fear of a bullet with the characters we have
to deal with." Swords and pikes had long since been laid aside; now it
was the firearm that either broke or enforced the law. And as the
frontier experience was an integral and important part of our national
experience, so firearms were an integral and important part of the
frontier experience.
Our first volume on this subject covered the years between 1803 and
1865. This volume begins, logically enough, with 1866 and ends
(technically, at least) with 1894. We chose 1894 as a cut-off date for
two reasons. First, that year saw the initial army issues of a new high-
velocity bolt-action rifle designed for smokeless-powder cartridges.
Second, the Winchester Model 1894, a civilian arm adapted for
smokeless-powder ammunition, also appeared at that time. Thus, for
all practical purposes, 1894 marks the beginning of the modern era in
firearms. In a few instances, however, we have allowed ourselves the
latitude of extending the narrative to about 1900.
Within this time span we have attempted to deal with all the important
military and civilian firearms used in the settling of the West, as well
as the guns favored by Indians. As far as the quality of our work is
concerned, we will again leave that to the reader to judge.
Louis A. Garavaglia and Charles G. Worman
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Page viii
To my children, Heather and Matt.
L. A. G.
To Carol, Liz, Paul, and Rob,
for their patience and support.
C. G. W.