The American Civil War was a proving ground for firearm innovation, producing some of the most well-known and widely used revolvers in U.S. history. Among them, the Starr 1858 Army Revolver stands as an often-overlooked but historically significant weapon that played a crucial role in arming Union cavalry forces. Manufactured by the Starr Arms Company,...
Category: Black Powder
Colt 1851 Navy vs. Colt 1860 Army: The Definitive Comparison of Two Legendary Revolvers
Colt 1861 Navy (foreground) and 1860 Army (background) "File:Coltnewmodles.jpg" by Michael E. Cumpston is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Few firearms have shaped American history like the Colt 1851 Navy and the Colt 1860 Army revolvers. Designed by Samuel Colt, these two cap-and-ball revolvers were not only some of the most widely used handguns of the mid-19th century...
The .50-70 Government Cartridge: Black Powder Big Bad Boy
The .50-70 Government cartridge holds a unique place in firearms history, marking the transition from muzzleloading muskets to modern breech-loading rifles. Developed by the U.S. Army Ordnance Department in 1866, this centerfire black powder cartridge replaced the aging .58 caliber rifled muskets of the Civil War era. It provided faster reloading, greater reliability, and superior...
The Maynard Carbine: An Early American Breech-Loading Firearm
The Maynard Carbine: A Pioneering American Breechloader The Maynard Carbine stands as a significant milestone in the evolution of American firearms, renowned for its innovative design, exceptional accuracy, and widespread use during the American Civil War. Developed by Dr. Edward Maynard, a dentist with an extraordinary talent for firearm engineering, the Maynard introduced advanced breech-loading...