Rogers & Spencer Army
Rogers & Spencer Company · Revolver · Out Of Production · 1863
Also known as: Rogers & Spencer Army Model, Rogers and Spencer .44 Army
Overview
The Rogers & Spencer Army was a .44-caliber, six-shot single-action percussion revolver built on a robust solid frame by the Rogers & Spencer Company of Willowvale, New York during the American Civil War. With its octagonal 7.5-inch barrel, sturdy topstrap and excellent fit and finish, it is frequently regarded as one of the best-made and most accurate American cap-and-ball military revolvers of the era.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1330 g (46.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 349 mm (13.74") |
| Barrel Length | 191 mm (7.52") |
| Action Type | Single Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Rotary |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Percussion (Cap and Ball) · primary — also known as .44 cal, .44 percussion, 11mm
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Pins Between Nipples
- Features: Revolving Cylinder, Solid Frame, Octagonal Barrel, Single Action Only, Percussion Cap Ignition
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1864
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 5,800 · Production years: 1863-1865
5,000 delivered on an 1864 US Army contract plus roughly 800 additional; many never issued and stored as surplus
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 1865
Notes
The Ordnance Department contracted 5,000 revolvers in November 1864; about 1,500 were delivered by the war's end in April 1865 and the balance by September 1865. Most arrived too late for combat and were placed in storage, so many survive in near-new condition. Total production was approximately 5,800.
Background
Delivered largely after Appomattox, most Rogers & Spencer revolvers sat unused in government arsenals for decades, which is why this contender for 'best Civil War revolver' is so often found today in pristine, unfired condition.