Warner Pocket Revolver
Springfield Arms Company · Revolver · Discontinued · 1857
Also known as: James Warner Pocket Revolver, Warner's Patent Pocket Revolver, Springfield Arms Warner Pocket Model
Overview
The Warner Pocket Revolver is a six-shot, single-action .28 caliber percussion (cap-and-ball) revolver designed by James Warner and produced at Springfield, Massachusetts in the years surrounding the American Civil War. A compact pocket or vest-sized handgun, it featured safety notches machined into the rear edge of the cylinder so the hammer nose could rest safely between chambers, a feature carried across all of Warner's pocket models. Produced in relatively small numbers, it served the civilian self-defense market of the 1850s and 1860s.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 340 g (12.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Barrel Length | 76 mm (2.99") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 180 m/s (591 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 47 J (35 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 15 m (16 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 60 m (66 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Rosewood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .28 Caliber Percussion (Cap and Ball) · primary — also known as .28 Cap and Ball, .28 Caliber Percussion, .28 Ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Cylinder Safety Notches
- Features: Single Action Only, Cap And Ball, Octagonal Or Round Barrel, Six Shot Cylinder
Service history
Operators
- American civilian market
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Production years: 1857-1865
Only a few hundred of the earliest .28 caliber variant were produced before a later .31 caliber variant was adopted; total production across variants remained modest.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: James Warner
Discontinued: 1865
Notes
Early examples chambered .28 caliber; later Warner pocket variants were produced in .31 caliber. Barrels were offered in both octagonal and round profiles in lengths from roughly 2.5 to 4 inches.
Background
James Warner received US Patent No. 17,904 on July 28, 1857 for his percussion revolver design. His pocket revolvers were marked 'JAMES WARNER SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A.' on the cylinder frame and 'WARNER'S PATENT' on the cylinder.