Augusta Machine Works Revolver
Augusta Machine Works · Pistol · Discontinued · 1861
Also known as: Augusta Revolver, Confederate Augusta Navy Revolver
Overview
The Augusta Machine Works Revolver is a .36 caliber, six-shot cap-and-ball percussion revolver manufactured in the Confederacy during the American Civil War. A close copy of the Colt Model 1851 Navy, it features a single-action open-top frame, octagonal iron barrel, unfluted cylinder and a distinctive squared-off grip frame. Produced in very small numbers at the Confederate-owned works in Augusta, Georgia, it is regarded by many collectors as one of the finest sidearms made by the South.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1190 g (42.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 343 mm (13.50") |
| Barrel Length | 197 mm (7.76") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 229 m/s (751 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 152 J (112 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Iron |
| Barrel Material | Iron |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Browned |
Calibers
- .36 Caliber Percussion (Cap and Ball) · primary — also known as .36 cal, .36 percussion, 9.1mm
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Percussion Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Notch
- Features: Open Top Frame, Octagonal Barrel, Hinged Loading Lever, Unfluted Cylinder, Squared Grip Frame, Brass Trigger Guard, Brass Backstrap
Service history
Operators
- Confederate States Army · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 100 · Production years: 1861-1864
Fewer than 100 produced; only a handful are known to survive, making it among the rarest of Confederate revolvers.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 1864
Notes
The revolvers carry no maker's markings; attribution to Augusta Machine Works was established in 1963 by Albaugh, Benet and Simmons. Cylinders are found with either six or twelve cylinder stops. Serial markings appear as a number (highest known 48) or a letter (J, K, O and Y documented).
Background
Because the revolvers bear no maker's mark, their origin was a mystery until 1963, when researchers William A. Albaugh, Hugh Benet Jr. and Edward N. Simmons attributed them to the Confederate government's Augusta Machine Works in Augusta, Georgia.