Pietta 1858 Starr Double Action
F.lli Pietta · Revolver · In Production
Also known as: Pietta Starr Model 1858 Army Double Action, Starr 1858 Army DA (Pietta reproduction)
Overview
The Pietta 1858 Starr Double Action is a modern reproduction of the Starr Model 1858 Army, a six-shot .44-caliber cap-and-ball percussion revolver originally supplied to Union cavalry during the American Civil War. Built by the Italian maker F.lli Pietta, it faithfully recreates the Starr's distinctive two-piece hinged frame and its unusual double-action lockwork, in which a large forward firing lever both indexes the cylinder and, at the end of its travel, trips a rear sear to drop the hammer. It carries a 6-inch rifled steel barrel, blued steel fittings and a one-piece European walnut grip.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1179 g (41.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 305 mm (12.01") |
| Barrel Length | 152 mm (5.98") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 240 m/s (787 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 269 J (198 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 762 mm (30.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Caliber Percussion · primary — also known as .44 cal, .454 round ball, .44 Cap & Ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Percussion Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Notches
- Features: Cap And Ball Percussion, Loading Lever, Two Piece Hinged Frame, Double Action Lockwork, Dovetailed Front Sight, One Piece Walnut Grip
Production
Reproduction of the original Starr Model 1858 Army, of which about 23,000 double-action revolvers were made by Starr Arms Company from 1858 to the mid-1860s.
Origin
Country of origin: Italy
Designer: Ebenezer Townsend Starr
Notes
Loads with #11 percussion caps; a typical charge is around 22 grains of FFFg black powder with a .454 round ball and a lubricated revolver wad. The forward lever's two-stage action makes the Starr one of the more mechanically unusual percussion revolvers ever built.
Background
The original Starr double-action Army was patented by Ebenezer Townsend Starr and made Starr Arms the third-largest revolver supplier to the U.S. government in the Civil War, accounting for over 12 percent of Union cavalry sidearms behind only Colt and Remington. Army officers ultimately preferred simpler single-action designs, prompting the later, single-action Model 1863.