Colt Model 1855 Revolving Rifle
Colt's Manufacturing Company · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1855
Also known as: Colt's New Model Revolving Rifle, Colt Root Revolving Rifle, Model 1855 Revolving Carbine
Overview
The Colt Model 1855 Revolving Rifle adapted Colt's percussion-revolver mechanism to a shoulder arm, built on the Root sidehammer frame. Offered in .36, .44, and .56 caliber with a six-shot cylinder for the smaller bores and a five-shot cylinder for the .56, it gave a soldier repeating firepower decades before practical metallic-cartridge repeaters. Several thousand were bought by the US government for the Civil War, but the design was hampered by chain-fire risk and gas leakage at the cylinder gap.
Specifications
| Overall Length | 800 mm (31.50") |
| Barrel Length | 609 mm (23.98") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Rotary |
| Muzzle Velocity | 312 m/s (1024 fps) |
| Effective Range | 183 m (200 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 427 m (467 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .56 Caliber Ball · primary — also known as .56 caliber, .56 ball
- .44 Caliber Ball — also known as .44 caliber, .44 ball
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Features: Revolving Percussion Cylinder, Loading Lever, Side Hammer, Rifled Barrel
Variants
- Colt Model 1855 Revolving Carbine — Carbine
- Colt Model 1855 Revolving Rifle (.44 six-shot) — Caliber Variant
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1857 · as Model 1855 Revolving Rifle
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Production years: 1856-1864
Approximately 4,435 to 4,712 rifles purchased by the US government for Civil War service
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Elisha K. Root
Discontinued: 1864
Notes
Built on Colt's Root-pattern sidehammer revolving system. Available with 15, 18, 21, or 24-inch barrels; .56 caliber used a 5-shot cylinder while .36 and .44 used 6 shots. Roughly 4,400-4,700 rifles were purchased by the US government.
Background
Notorious for chain-fire, the revolving rifle could touch off every chamber at once; soldiers learned to keep the supporting hand well behind the cylinder, since a multiple discharge could maim the forearm steadying the barrel.