Talk:Colt 1851 Navy Revolver

Comments

 * Have been planning on writing this article for some time, but looks like you have made a good start. Yes, some formatting will be needed, but that is easy enough to fix.  Thanks!  Yaf 05:36, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

Good! please have at it User:cumpston

This article has not attracted any skilled editors so, I cobbled into something vaguely resembling Wikipedia form. The basic information is accurate according to the available sources (listed) but I suspect the article could benefit from some expansion I started this page (Colt 1851 Navy Revolver) because no such page has been created and there was at least one request for it. --Mcumpston (talk) 15:19, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Spelling Correction
From Merriam Webster dictionary;

detent
One entry found.

detent

Main Entry: de·tent Pronunciation: \ˈdē-ˌtent, di-ˈ\ Function: noun Etymology: French détente, from Middle French destente, from destendre to slacken, from Old French, from des- de- + tendre to stretch, from Latin tendere — more at thin Date: 1688
 * a device (as a catch, dog, or spring-operated ball) for positioning and holding one mechanical part in relation to another in a manner such that the device can be released by force applied to one of the parts

detente One entry found.

detente Main Entry: dé·tente Variant(s): or de·tente \dā-ˈtänt\ Function: noun Etymology: French Date: 1908 1: the relaxation of strained relations or tensions (as between nations); also : a policy promoting this 2: a period of détente

Loading and handling sequence common to percussion revolvers
The loading sequence and basic operation of the Colt revolvers remained constant throughout the percussion period, and mirrors the operation of most other percussion revolvers. A shooter familiar with the basic operation of the Colt would find the function of a Remington, LeMat, Adams, or Cooper double action essentially identical.

Percussion revolvers are carried with the hammer down between chambers, with a groove or protuberance in the hammer engaging either a safety peg or notch in the rear of the cylinder. This method prevents inadvertent rotation of the cylinder, and prevents the hammer from touching the percussion caps and firing the weapon unintentionally. Patersons and a few later revolvers such as the Rogers and Spencer lacked these safety detents, requiring that they be carried with the hammer down on an empty chamber.

To load:


 * 1) Draw the hammer back to the first detent, placing it on "half cock" and allowing the cylinder to rotate for loading;
 * 2) Fill the chambers with powder, leaving enough room to seat a bullet or ball, and place a ball on the chamber mouth with the sprue (mark or projection left from filling the mould) facing exactly forward;
 * 3) Rotate the chamber under the rammer and use the loading lever (if present) to seat the projectile firmly on top of the powder column and at or below the chamber mouth;
 * 4) Place percussion caps on each of the nipples at the rear of the chambers;
 * 5) Rotate the cylinder as necessary and return the hammer to down position (pull it back slightly, squeeze trigger and let hammer down carefully) engaging the safety detents; or
 * 6) Draw the hammer back to full cock for immediate firing.

A single-action revolver is thumb-cocked before firing, which rotates the cylinder and puts a loaded chamber under the hammer; the trigger then is pulled to fire. With double-action revolvers, a single long pull on the trigger cocks the hammer, rotates the cylinder and fires the arm.

Variations:


 * A. In the case of foil or combustible-paper cartridges containing bullet and powder, place the cartridge in the chamber and use the loading lever to fully seat the projectile. In the case of foil cartridges, insert a nipple pick through the cone openings to pierce the rear of the cartridge envelopes, then cap the nipples.
 * B. After #3 above, it was (and still is) common practice to put heavy grease over and around the seated bullet, to lubricate the ball, reduce fouling and prevent multiple (chain) fires; or
 * C. After #2 above, some early shooters (and modern shooters, too) placed a rigid, greased felt wad over the powder column before seating the bullet, as a hedge against chain fires which may occur with undersized or poorly-shaped bullets or chambers (Bates, Cumpston 2005). It also effectively minimizes fouling buildup in the bore and allows for accurate extended shooting (Keith 1956). It also is common to run a bristle brush or patch dampened with black-powder solvent through the bore before reloading.
 * D. Most modern target shooters use less than full charges, filling the remaining space over the powder with an inert filler (often Cream of Wheat) so the ball is at the front of the cylinder when loaded. This procedure improves accuracy by reducing the "jump" of the ball before it enters the barrel.
 * E. Civil War re-enactors use Cream of Wheat to fill the void normally filled by a bullet, and prevent not only chain-fire, but loss of powder.

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Unnecessary information in header?
Hello, I just wanted to ask if this long sentence “sometimes erroneously referred to as "Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber" or "of Navy Caliber" (Naval is heavy gun and Navy Size Caliber was termed later for another Colt model),” is really necessary, and what purpose does it serve? Should it remain, why or why not? In my opinion, it seems to serve little purpose, but I’d like to hear others’ thoughts Aliy Dawut (talk) 19:29, 30 April 2024 (UTC)