Remington Army and Navy Revolvers

481 Pages·2007·8.24 MB·English

by  Donald L. Ware

REMINGTON
ARMY AND NAVY
REVOLVERS
1861–1888

REMINGTON
ARMY NAVY
AND
REVOLVERS
1861–1888
Donald L. Ware
University ofNew Mexico Press
ALBUQUERQUE
© 2007by the University of New Mexico Press
All rights reserved.Published 2007
Printed in the United States of America
13 12 11 10 09 08 07 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ware,Donald L.,1927–
Remington army and navy revolvers,1861–1888/ Donald L.Ware.
p.cm.
ISBN 978-0-8263-4280-5(cloth :alk.paper)
1.Remington pistols—History—19th century. 2.E.Remington & Sons—History—
19th century. 3.United States—Armed Forces—Firearms—History—19th century.
4.United States—History—Civil War,1861–1865—Equipment and supplies. I.Title.
UD413.W372007
623.4'436097309034—dc22
2007002884
Book design and composition by Damien Shay
Body type is Minion 10.5/14
Display is Toussant and Impact
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix
PROLOGUE xi
INTRODUCTION xxvii
Remington Historical Background
CHAPTER ONE 1
Remington Navy Revolvers Purchased by the
Army Ordnance Department
CHAPTER TWO 31
Remington’s First Revolver Contracts
CHAPTER THREE 73
Remington’s Second Army Revolver Contract
CHAPTER FOUR 91
Remington’s Third Army Revolver Contract
CHAPTER FIVE 123
Remington’s Fourth Army Revolver Contract
CHAPTER SIX 133
Remington Navy Revolvers Purchased by the
Bureau ofOrdnance,U.S.Navy
CHAPTER SEVEN 191
Remington’s Civil War Rifle and Carbine Contracts
CHAPTER EIGHT 225
Metallic Cartridge Alterations
CHAPTER NINE 273
Metallic Cartridge Alterations for the
Bureau ofOrdnance
CHAPTER TEN 329
Identifying Remington Army and Navy Revolvers
EPILOGUE 363
APPENDIX A 367
The Owen-Holt Commission
APPENDIX B 381
Remington–Ordnance Department’s
Civil War Contracts
APPENDIX C 399
Serial Number–Production Date Tables
NOTES 403
INDEX 419
PREFACE
T
he original concept for this volume came about some twenty-odd years ago.Jerry Landskron
had just published his Remington Rolling Block Pistols. Jerry and I had devoted many
evenings in the den of my home, disassembling and studying the construction of dozens of
Rolling Block Pistols. Jack Daniels usually participated in these meetings but did not interfere
with the proceedings. Jerry’s diligent research at the National Archives, combined with our
hands-on studies of the pistols, provided him with the nucleus for his volume on the Rolling
Block Pistols.
When his book came offthe press,I was duly impressed.This was the kind ofresearch a col-
lector could rely on when looking for answers to questions about arms in his collection.
Faron “Slim” Kohler, another of my gun show buddies, raised the possibility of doing
research in the National Archives for information on Remington’s Army and Navy Revolvers.We
concluded that if there were enough information available, we too might undertake a writing
project.Due to the constraints ofmy employment,I sat on the sidelines while Slim and his wife,
Lois,made their first foray into the massive records of the archives.Being novices at this type of
research, they were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of material offered but managed to
retrieve enough to convince us that such a project was possible.The following year,Slim and I
both made the pilgrimage. We decided before embarking that no information concerning any
type of firearm would be ignored.We copied and tabbed (the method of identifying a source,
which is then microfilmed) several hundred letters and reports to and from the Ordnance
Department and Bureau of Ordnance.We devoted two weeks to this trip,working every avail-
able hour the archives were open to the public.
Then came the waiting. It seemed as if the microfilm would never arrive. When it did,
there came another rash of processing the microfilm,making duplicate copies,and sorting all
this information into files.We were elated as the story of the development and procurement
of the Remington revolvers began to take form. There were still pieces of the puzzle missing
however.These mandated further visits to the archives,and after each trip,more of the pieces
fell into place.
We originally opted to relate the story in two volumes. The first would deal with the
Remington Navy Revolvers,as they had been the first produced.This was proceeding quite well
when subsequent thinking prevailed. Both Slim and I were well into our golden years, and the
possibility that the second volume would never be completed arose. Changing course, we
decided that we could study both the army and navy revolvers in one volume.In retrospect,this
seems to have been a good decision as the stories are entwined.
A decision was made early on that Slim would provide the photography and I would write
the text.I do not remember the reason for this,but considering that I had had a limited educa-
tion (through the ninth grade),I was biting off a mighty big chew.
vii
PREFACE
Fate took a hand in the development of this project when Slim became so ill he could no
longer participate.This put another burden on me,as I then had to search for the many photo-
graphs needed to illustrate the book.These came from many sources;a great many I took myself.
To all my many friends who have questioned me so many times about the publication date
of this volume,here it is,and I hope it meets your expectations.
One final remark: I have heard it said that no book is better than its editor. A profound
truth! Mr. Drury Williford has provided the substance to hold this story together. An accom-
plished arms researcher and author in his own right, he has spent many hours editing and re-
editing these pages.Were it not for his constant encouragement, this project would have been
abandoned long ago.
I also owe a profound thanks to my daughter,Susan L.Wrye-Jaramillo,who did the final edit
and rectified the many errors that occurred in converting to the Microsoft Word processing pro-
gram. Even my grandson got into the act. He converted all of my tables, which had originally
been processed in WordPerfect,to the MSWord format.Thank you,Matthew Wrye.
DON WARE
Russellville,Arkansas
August 10,2006
viii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
E
very author realizes that the final product of his labors would not have come to fruition
without the generous help and assistance of others.Any literary work, whether fact or fic-
tion,is the accumulation of the efforts of many people.The following all have my gratitude.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, during whose presidential tenure the National Archives and
Records Administration were initiated and early records cataloged and filed by the Works
Project Administration.
Faron “Slim” Kohler, who devoted many hours of time researching National Archives
records with the author.His assistance was sorely missed during the final preparation ofthis vol-
ume.Slim’s death on March 26,2006,was sad news to the gun collecting fraternity and particu-
larly to his many friends in the Remington Society ofAmerica (RSA).He was an avid Remington
collector, and his vast collection of Remington handguns is at present on exhibit at the Cody
Firearms Museum.
Jerry Landskron,who provided the initial impetus for conducting the research for this volume.
Jerry’s book on Rolling Block Pistols is still the most informative book available on the subject.
Jay Huber,for providing copies ofdocuments and pictures from his collection and for shar-
ing results of his research on the Beals Army and Navy Models.
Roy Marcot,for sharing pictures from his vast collection of Remington memorabilia.Roy is
also an accomplished author and researcher.He currently has two books on Remington history
and products in print and is currently working on two more. He is perhaps better known to
members of the RSA as editor of the RemingtonSocietyofAmericaJournal.
Edward Hull, for providing research materials and valuable insights to the U.S. Army’s
Ordnance Department.Ed is also an avid researcher and has published many articles on antique
rifles and carbines in various periodicals.
Charles Pate also provided some missing research documents and photos.He too is a great
researcher and is the author of two firearms books and has a third one on the way. Charlie is
doing great work in continuing the Springfield Research Service started by Frank Mallory sev-
eral years ago.
Drury Williford,for donating precious time away from his own many literary endeavors to
carefully edit my manuscript.Drury’s field ofinterest is combustible cartridges.He has authored
several works on that subject for gun-related periodicals.
Fred Ream,for always being there when I need to explore some aspect ofRemington history
or discuss a Remington revolver.A very good gun show buddy.
All the great people at the University of New Mexico Press who were instrumental in the
final preparation and printing of this volume.
There are others too numerous to mention who have made minor contributions to this
work.I heartily thank them,each and every one.
ix