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Rogers & Spencer .44 Army: Possibly the Best Civil War Revolver (Ad-free)
🕑 Added 2022-10-26 13:00:08 +0000 UTCAmos Rogers and Julius Spencer ran a company making mostly farm equipment in the 1840s and 1850s. In 1859, they took on a firearms manufacturing contract (as mechanical fabrication companies often do) to make Pettengill revolvers. The Pettengill was not a fantastic design, but it was good enough that after the Civil War broke out, the Union gave Rogers & Spencer a contract to make 5,000 of them and also 25,000 standard muskets. The musket production went well, although the revolvers had problems - more due to the design than any fault of the manufacturers.
By the summer of 1864, Rogers and Spencer had decided to try their own hand at revolver design. Using the experience gained form the Pettengill, they came up with a .44 caliber single action Army type revolver very similar to the Freeman, and in November 1864 got a contract to make 5,000 of them for the Army. Deliveries began with 500 in January of 1865 and a further 500 each month until the contract concluded successfully. Naturally, being a well-designed and effectively manufactured gun, they were too late to actually see combat service in the war.
Instead, all of the Rogers & Spencer revolvers were put into storage, where they stayed until 1901. At that point they were finally old as surplus. The entire lot of 4,982 (eighteen having gone mine over the intervening 4 decades) was purchased by Francis Bannerman for jut over 25 cents each, and then listed for sale in his catalog at $3.85.
Comments
Bruce Brodnax
And the inspiration for the Ruger Old Army...
Bruce Brodnax
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_QvgRbbTPI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIdIdQ5MESI&t=1s Just so you know, you aren't the only one on the prowl... π
Paul Beck
Thanks everyone for the information on the German replicas, I happen to have owned one of their air rifles and a few of their blades. π€ π
Peter Stadlmaier
Replicas of the R&S were not only made in Italy, but also in Germany by the company "Feinwerkbau". Those are well known (at least in the german-speaking countrys) for their excelent Quality. http://www.allermann.de/dokumente/130237.pdf
Peter Stadlmaier
Better look out for the German replicas, made by Feinwerkbau.
The Bone Clock
How about $4,250 for an original? https://oldsteelguns.com/store/rogers-and-spencer-army-44-black-powder-original-must-see/
The Bone Clock
Sorry. Dupe.
Guido Schriewer
too bad they never saw the light of day someplace with someone. sounds like a damn shame to keep those stored so long. odd bellshape on the grip. should feel better than that looks.
Paul Beck
Okay, I am Definitely going to be looking for those Italian replica pistols!!! π€ π
Julian Corbett
How ironic. The ONE contract during the Civil War that was put out to tender and was completed on time and accepted without issue ends up being probably the only one never issued!
