Savage-North Navy Revolver
Savage Revolving Firearms Company · Revolver · Out Of Production · 1860
Also known as: Savage & North revolver, North & Savage Navy revolver, Figure-8 revolver
Overview
The Savage-North Navy revolver was an early double-action .36 caliber percussion revolver designed by Henry S. North and Edward Savage and built by the Savage Revolving Firearms Company from 1860 to 1862. Its hallmark was the 'figure-8' trigger: a lower ring lever drawn back with the middle finger cocked the hammer and rotated the six-shot cylinder, while a conventional upper trigger released the hammer to fire. The US Navy bought roughly 300 in 1860 and a further 800 in 1861, but the complex action was unpopular with sailors and saw only limited Civil War service.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1530 g (54.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 362 mm (14.25") |
| Barrel Length | 181 mm (7.13") |
| Action Type | Double Action Revolver |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Rotary |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 60 m (66 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .36 Caliber Ball · primary — also known as 36 cal round ball, 9.1mm ball
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Percussion Cylinder
- Features: Six Shot Cylinder, Figure Eight Trigger, Ring Cocking Lever, Octagonal Barrel, Percussion Cap, Muzzle Loader
Variants
- Savage 1861 Navy — Production Model
Service history
Operators
- United States Navy · adopted 1860
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,100 · Production years: 1860-1862
Roughly 1,100 delivered to the US Navy (about 300 in 1860 plus 800 in 1861) before the simplified 1861 Navy superseded it
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Henry S. North
Discontinued: 1862
Notes
The design directly preceded and inspired the simplified Savage 1861 Navy. The two-trigger figure-8 mechanism was an early attempt at double action that proved overly complex in service.
Background
Sailors disliked the awkward 'figure-8' ring-and-trigger cocking system so much that it was quickly redesigned into the simpler Savage 1861 Navy, leaving the original Savage-North among the rarer Civil War revolvers today.