The 1855 Colt New Model Revolving Rifle: A Pioneering but Flawed Firearm
The mid-19th century was a period of rapid innovation in firearms technology, and few weapons exemplify both the ambition and limitations of that era quite like the Colt New Model Revolving Rifle. Developed by Colt’s Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company, this firearm sought to extend the revolver's rapid-fire capabilities to a rifle platform. While it offered unprecedented firepower for its time, fundamental design flaws ultimately limited its success. This article explores the weapon’s development, production, use in military conflicts, technical specifications, and its place in firearms history.
Development and Design of the Colt Model 1855 Revolving Rifle
The Colt New Model Revolving Rifle was the brainchild of Elisha K. Root, Colt’s chief engineer, who played a crucial role in improving the company’s manufacturing processes and firearm designs. Root was responsible for designing several key firearms, and while the revolving rifle was inspired by Samuel Colt’s earlier revolving carbines, it introduced new design elements that set it apart from earlier models.
This rifle represented a significant departure from traditional single-shot, muzzle-loading rifles. It featured a cylinder-fed mechanism, similar to Colt’s revolvers, allowing for multiple shots before reloading. Unlike its predecessors, the Model 1855 featured an enclosed cylinder with a top strap, increasing structural integrity and durability. The trigger mechanism was single-action, requiring the shooter to cock the hammer manually before each shot.
Manufacturing and Production
Colt’s factory in Hartford, Connecticut, was at the forefront of industrialized firearms production. By the mid-19th century, the company had fully embraced the concept of interchangeable parts, an innovation that revolutionized mass production. This enabled more efficient manufacturing and easier repairs in the field.
The exact production numbers for the Colt New Model Revolving Rifle remain uncertain, but estimates suggest that fewer than 10,000 were produced between 1855 and the late 1860s. The rifle was manufactured in multiple configurations, including:
- Full-stock military models with longer barrels.
- Half-stock sporting models designed for civilian hunters and sharpshooters.
- Carbine versions for mounted troops and cavalry.
Barrel lengths varied between 24 and 31 inches, with caliber offerings including .36, .44, .56, and .60.
Ammunition and Ballistics
The Colt New Model Revolving Rifle was chambered for paper cartridges loaded with black powder, much like contemporary revolvers. These cartridges were ignited by percussion caps, placed on nipples at the rear of each cylinder chamber. The primary calibers included:
- .36 caliber (small game hunting, personal defense)
- .44 caliber (military and law enforcement use)
- .56 caliber (most common for military applications)
- .60 caliber (rarer, high-impact rounds for larger targets)
Ballistically, the rifle offered a distinct advantage over single-shot muskets of the era due to its rapid rate of fire. A skilled shooter could fire six shots in under a minute, compared to the two or three rounds per minute typical of muzzleloaders.
However, one of the most dangerous design flaws of the Model 1855 was chain-firing—a catastrophic malfunction where multiple chambers discharged simultaneously. This often resulted in severe hand injuries or damage to the rifle. Chain-fires were caused by embers igniting adjacent chamber loads, often due to loose powder residue or improper sealing between bullets and chambers.
Military Use and Performance in Combat
The Colt New Model Revolving Rifle was adopted in limited numbers by the U.S. Army and certain state militias. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), the rifle was issued to specialized units, including:
- The 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters (Berdan’s Sharpshooters) – elite Union marksmen experimented with the rifle but quickly abandoned it due to safety concerns.
- Cavalry units – some mounted troops used the carbine version, though its length made it cumbersome for horseback engagements.
While the Model 1855 offered an increased rate of fire, its disadvantages quickly became apparent in battle. The revolving cylinder vented hot gases sideways, posing a danger to the shooter’s supporting hand. Chain-firing incidents further undermined confidence in the rifle. As a result, the military shifted focus toward more reliable repeaters, such as the Spencer repeating rifle and later the Henry rifle.
Comparison to Contemporary Rifles
The Colt New Model Revolving Rifle was revolutionary in concept but struggled against superior designs that emerged during the 1860s. It competed against:
- Springfield Model 1861 – The primary rifle of the Union Army, a rifled musket with greater reliability and accuracy.
- Spencer Repeating Rifle – Lever-action, magazine-fed, and far more practical for battlefield use.
- Henry Rifle (1860) – A true lever-action repeater with high-capacity capabilities, setting the stage for later Winchester rifles.
The Decline and Legacy of the Colt Model 1855
By the late 1860s, the Colt New Model Revolving Rifle had been rendered obsolete. Despite its innovative concept, the safety risks, reloading inefficiencies, and the advent of superior repeating rifles led to its discontinuation. Colt shifted focus toward improving revolver designs and refining cartridge-based firearms.
Today, surviving examples of the Colt Model 1855 Revolving Rifle are valuable collector’s items, often fetching high prices at auctions. The rifle represents an important transitional step in firearms evolution, bridging the gap between single-shot muskets and magazine-fed repeaters.
Conclusion: Innovation with Limitations
The Colt New Model Revolving Rifle was a bold attempt to bring revolver technology to long guns, but its flaws prevented widespread adoption. While it offered a faster rate of fire than contemporary muzzle-loaders, safety concerns and mechanical inefficiencies proved insurmountable.
Nevertheless, this firearm remains a critical piece of firearms history, reflecting the rapid technological changes of the mid-19th century. Though overshadowed by the Spencer and Henry rifles, the Colt New Model Revolving Rifle demonstrated the potential for repeating firearms—a lesson that influenced later developments in lever-action and bolt-action rifles.
For firearms enthusiasts, historians, and collectors, the Colt Model 1855 Revolving Rifle remains a fascinating artifact of innovation, ambition, and the challenges of early repeating firearm technology.
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