Pietta 1861 Snub Nose Army

F.lli Pietta · Revolver · In Production

Also known as: Pietta 1861 Snub Nose Army, Pietta Snub Nose 1861 Army .36, CPPSNB36

Overview

The Pietta 1861 Snub Nose Army is a .36 caliber cap-and-ball percussion revolver, a modern reproduction built by Italian maker F.lli Pietta. It combines a compact 3-inch barrel with the classic six-shot fluted cylinder of the mid-19th-century Army pattern, omitting the under-barrel loading lever to produce a shorter, easier-carrying profile. The steel frame is color case-hardened, fitted with a walnut grip and top-strap post sights, and the gun is charged with loose black powder, ball, and #10 percussion caps using the included brass loading tool.

Specifications

Weight (empty)726 g (25.6 oz)
Overall Length229 mm (9.02")
Barrel Length76 mm (2.99")
Action TypeRevolving
Firing MechanismPercussion
Trigger TypeSingle Action
Magazine Capacity6 rounds
Magazine TypeRevolving Cylinder
Muzzle Velocity229 m/s (751 fps)
Muzzle Energy152 J (112 ft·lbf)
Effective Range25 m (27 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Rifling Twist762 mm (30.00")
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWalnut
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Production

Contemporary Pietta reproduction; a stylized snub-nose variant not corresponding to a historical military-issue model.

Origin

Country of origin: Italy

Notes

A snub-nose interpretation of the percussion Army revolver; the loading lever is deleted, so the cylinder is charged off the frame with a separate brass tool. Sold as a black-powder muzzleloader, not a cartridge firearm.

Background

Cap-and-ball snub-nose revolvers like this were never period-issue arms; they are modern reproductions created to give black-powder shooters a compact, quick-handling belt gun in the spirit of the Old West.