Colt M1860 Army, .44 Caplock USA, 1860-1873
Colt M1860 Army, .44 Caplock 2d pi+ 2 100/1,100 2.9/0.14 1 6(10i) 10 -3 3 $400 3 [1, 2]
Mechanically identical to the Colt M1851 Navy (p. 10) but
in a larger caliber, the Model of 1860 was the Union Army’s
principal handgun during the American Civil War. More than
200,000 were made, the U.S. Army alone acquiring almost
130,000. According to some accounts, Army scout Lieutenant
William Cody (Old West, p. 101) used such a revolver to kill
Cheyenne chief Heova’ehe (“Yellow Hair”) in 1876, after having
been challenged by the brave. Outlaw John Wesley Hardin
(Old West, pp. 101-102, and GURPS Who’s Who 2, pp. 92-93)
did most of his killings with this .44-caliber cap-and-ball
revolver, including the first one when he was only 15 years old.
The Colt Army had a 7.5” barrel. Reloading it with loose
powder and ball rather than paper cartridges (High-Tech,
p. 86) increases reloading time to 20 seconds per chamber.
Alternatively, the cylinder could be swapped for a preloaded
spare cylinder ($130, 0.9 lb.), which takes 15 seconds total to
detach and reinsert. Most people simply carried a second
revolver instead. A detachable 2.3-lb. wooden pistol stock
(High-Tech, p. 160) was offered for some of these guns. Firing
the weapon with the stock requires Guns (Rifle) skill.
It can be seen in the hands of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain
in Gettysburg, cowboy Newt Dobbs and Texas Ranger Captain
Woodrow Call in Lonesome Dove, gunslinger Josey Wales in
The Outlaw Josey Wales, and rancher Elliot Marston in Quigley
Down Under.
In 1871, the U.S. Army bought 1,000 converted to use the
.44 Martin cartridge (High-Tech, p. 164): Malf. 17, Dmg 2d-1
pi+, Shots 6(3i). From 1871, many were converted for $110 for
commercial sale to fire .44 Colt cartridges: Malf. 17, Dmg 2d-1
pi+, Shots 6(3i). Outlaw Cole Younger of the James-Younger
gang had two of these when he was captured in Minnesota in
1876. Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire carried a converted Model
1860 as backup in a lined pants pocket (Tactical Shooting,
p. 72). This had its barrel shortened to 3”: Dmg 1d+2 pi+, Acc
0, Wt. 2.7/0.27, Shots 6(4i), Bulk -1. Since it lacked the ejector
rod, reloading took much longer.
Outlaw Jake Lonergan uses an M1860 with the early Thuer
conversion system (1868-1872) in Cowboys & Aliens.
Conversions using the Richards system (1870-1873) are shown
in action by U.S. Army Major Amos Dundee in Major Dundee,
Cherokee chief “Lone Watie” in The Outlaw Josey Wales, and
Marshal Stockburn in Pale Rider.
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