Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Pettengill Army Model revolver, patented in 1856 and produced by Rogers, Spencer & Co., represented a unique departure from Civil War-era revolver design. Unlike conventional single-action revolvers, it featured an internal hammer and double-action operation, making it distinctively hammerless. In 1862, the U.S. military ordered 5,000 of these .44 caliber six-shot revolvers at $20 each, later reduced to 2,001 units. Despite its innovative design, the revolver proved problematic in service – black powder fouling quickly compromised its internal mechanism. The 3rd Michigan Cavalry received about 500 units, with the remaining guns distributed among units from Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri. Total production reached approximately 3,400 units between June 1862 and January 1863. Most were removed from service within a year, with the government eventually selling surplus guns for as little as 27 cents each in 1882. While the design was ahead of its time – requiring advancements like smokeless powder to be truly effective – their rarity has made them valuable collector items, particularly those bearing military inspection marks.
“Manufactured in the early 1860s.
Manufacturer: Pettingill C SModel: ArmyType: RevolverGauge: 44 percussionBarrel: 7 1/2 inch octagonFinish: blue/casehardenedGrip: walnut”
Lot 2327: Civil War Era C.S. Pettengill Army Model Percussion Revolver. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1032/2327/civil-war-era-cs-pettengill-army-model-percussion-revolver.
The post POTD: Hammerless Civil War Revolver – The Pettengill Army Model appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.
