Joslyn Army Revolver
Joslyn Fire Arms Company · Revolver · Discontinued · 1861
Also known as: B.F. Joslyn Army Revolver, Joslyn Side-Hammer Revolver
Overview
The Joslyn Army Revolver is a .44 caliber, five-shot, single-action cap-and-ball percussion revolver designed by Benjamin F. Joslyn and produced during the early years of the American Civil War. It is distinguished by an unusual side-mounted hammer, an octagonal 8-inch barrel, and a solid frame with the cylinder arbor entering through the rear. Roughly 1,100 examples were purchased by the U.S. government, including about 225 inspected and marked by the Navy, making it one of the few .44 caliber revolvers procured by the Union Navy. It saw combat with Federal volunteer cavalry units but earned a generally poor reputation among the troops who carried it.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1360 g (48.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 343 mm (13.50") |
| Barrel Length | 203 mm (7.99") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 290 m/s (951 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 382 J (282 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Caliber Percussion · primary — also known as .44 Black Powder, .44 Percussion
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Percussion Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Notch
- Features: Side Hammer, Octagonal Barrel, Loading Lever, Checkered Walnut Grips, German Silver Front Sight
Variants
- Joslyn Army Revolver First Model - Early Production
- Joslyn Army Revolver Second Model - Late Production
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1861
- United States Navy · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 3,000 · Production years: 1861-1862
Approximately 500 First Models and about 2,500 Second Models produced; roughly 1,100 purchased by the U.S. government (about 225 to the Navy).
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Benjamin F. Joslyn
Discontinued: 1862
Notes
Based on U.S. Patent No. 20,160 granted to Benjamin F. Joslyn on May 4, 1858. Early First Model production was contracted to W.C. Freeman of Worcester, Massachusetts, who could not fulfill the order; Joslyn brought manufacturing in-house at Stonington, Connecticut. Government revolvers were delivered at roughly $22.50 each.
Background
Benjamin Joslyn's side-hammer revolver was an attempt to win a foothold in the lucrative Civil War sidearm market dominated by Colt and Remington. Its odd lateral hammer and indifferent reliability gave it a poor reputation, and after only a couple of years of production Joslyn abandoned revolvers to concentrate on his more successful breech-loading carbines.