The Civil War was a turning point in military history, marking the last major conflict where muzzle-loading rifle-muskets dominated the battlefield. These firearms, the result of centuries of development, shaped combat tactics, strategy, and the outcome of the war itself. Understanding the role of muskets in the Civil War requires tracing their evolution, analyzing their...
Category: Black Powder
The U.S. Model 1795 Musket: America’s First Standard-Issue Military Firearm
The U.S. Model 1795 Musket holds a pivotal place in American military history as the first standard-issue musket produced within the United States. Designed in response to the nation’s pressing need for a domestically manufactured, standardized firearm, the Model 1795 marked the beginning of America’s independent firearms industry. Inspired by the French Charleville Model 1763/66,...
The Starr 1858 Army Revolver: A Forgotten Powerhouse of the Civil War
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,...
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...