Walch M1859 Navy Revolver
New Haven Arms Company · Revolver · Out Of Production · 1859
Also known as: Walch 12-Shot Navy, Walch Navy Model 1859
Overview
The Walch M1859 Navy Revolver is a .36 caliber cap-and-ball percussion revolver notable for its superposed-load design, which allowed each of its six chambers to hold two separate powder-and-ball charges stacked one ahead of the other for a total of twelve shots. Designed by John Walch and patented on February 8, 1859, the Navy model used a six-chamber cylinder, a single trigger and twin hammers that fired the front and rear charges in sequence. Only about 200 were produced by the New Haven Arms Company between 1859 and 1862, and a handful saw use in the American Civil War and the American Indian Wars.
Specifications
| Barrel Length | 152 mm (5.98") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 12 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 229 m/s (751 fps) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .36 Caliber Percussion (Cap and Ball) · primary — also known as .36 cal, .36 percussion, 9.1mm
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Percussion Cap And Ball
- Features: Superposed Load, Twin Hammers, Single Trigger, Six Chamber Cylinder, Octagonal Barrel
Variants
- Walch 1859 Pocket Revolver (.31, 10-shot) - Pocket
Service history
Operators
- Union Army · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
- American Indian Wars (1859-1890)
Production
Estimated total produced: 200 · Production years: 1859-1862
Approximate figure for the 12-shot Navy model; the smaller .31 pocket variant was produced in larger numbers
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: John Walch
Discontinued: 1862
Notes
The superposed-load system doubled capacity over a standard six-shooter but was mechanically complex and prone to chain-firing (unintended simultaneous ignition of both charges). A smaller .31 caliber 10-shot pocket variant, using a five-chamber cylinder and two triggers, was produced in larger numbers.
Background
To pack twelve shots into a six-chamber cylinder, John Walch stacked two charges in each bore and lit them with two hammers - an ingenious but nerve-racking scheme, since a spark past the front ball could set off both loads at once.