Manhattan Navy Revolver
Manhattan Fire Arms Co. · Revolver · Discontinued · 1859
Also known as: Manhattan Navy Type, Manhattan .36 Navy
Overview
The Manhattan Navy Revolver was a .36-caliber cap-and-ball percussion revolver produced by the Manhattan Fire Arms Co. of Newark, New Jersey, as a close competitor to the Colt Model 1851 Navy. Built after Colt's revolver patent lapsed in 1857, it featured an octagonal barrel, a roll-engraved five-shot cylinder, a brass trigger guard and backstrap, and a case-hardened frame. Roughly 78,000 were made across five production series between 1859 and 1868, and many saw private-purchase service with soldiers during the American Civil War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1190 g (42.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 305 mm (12.01") |
| Barrel Length | 165 mm (6.50") |
| Action Type | Single Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 305 m/s (1001 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 240 J (177 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .36 Caliber Round Ball (Percussion) · primary — also known as .36 cal ball, 36 percussion, .375 round ball
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Pins
- Features: Octagonal Barrel, Roll Engraved Cylinder, Brass Trigger Guard, Loading Lever, Case Hardened Frame
Service history
Operators
- Union soldiers (private purchase) · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 78,000 · Production years: 1859-1868
The .36 Navy eventually represented more than half of Manhattan's total output.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 1868
Notes
Distinguished from the Colt by its five-shot cylinder (vs. Colt's six) and by safety pins between the nipples that let the hammer rest safely between chambers. Produced in Series I through V with varying barrel lengths.
Background
Manhattan Fire Arms was founded by New Jersey businessmen specifically to capitalize on the impending expiration of Colt's revolver patent, producing arms that openly imitated Colt's popular designs.