Spiller & Burr M1861 Revolver
Spiller & Burr · Revolver · Discontinued · 1862
Also known as: Spiller and Burr, Spiller & Burr Navy Revolver
Overview
The Spiller & Burr M1861 is a Confederate .36-caliber, six-shot, single-action percussion revolver produced during the American Civil War. Modeled on the Whitney Navy pattern rather than the Colt design specified in its government contract, it is distinguished by a cast-brass frame in place of the steel used by Union makers, with an iron barrel and cylinder. Fewer than 1,500 were completed before the war's end, making it one of the more successful of the scarce Confederate revolver programs and a prized collector's piece today.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1130 g (39.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 318 mm (12.52") |
| Barrel Length | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 221 m/s (725 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 134 J (99 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 70 m (77 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Brass |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .36 Caliber Percussion (Cap and Ball) · primary — also known as .36 Black Powder, .36 Percussion, .36 Navy
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Notches
- Features: Cast Brass Frame, Six Shot Cylinder, Loading Lever, Whitney Navy Pattern, Octagonal Barrel
Service history
Operators
- Confederate States Army · adopted 1862
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,450 · Production years: 1862-1865
Estimates range from roughly 1,250 to 1,450 completed against a Confederate contract for 15,000 revolvers
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: James H. Burton
Discontinued: 1865
Notes
Black powder / percussion cap only. The brass frame was adopted because the Confederacy lacked reliable supplies of gun-quality steel. Manufacture began in Richmond, Virginia, moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and finally to the Confederate Armory at Macon, Georgia, where the operation was taken over by the Confederate government in 1864.
Background
Edward N. Spiller and David J. Burr contracted with the Confederate government in 1861 to build 15,000 revolvers, with Confederate armory superintendent Lt. Col. James H. Burton providing the technical design. Chronic shortages of steel forced them to cast the frames in brass, and only about 1,450 were finished before the workshops, having fled Richmond for Atlanta and then Macon, were overrun as the war collapsed.