Welcome to right now’s Picture of the Day! The Rogers & Spencer .44 caliber Military revolver represented a quick however profitable foray into firearms manufacturing by the corporate through the Civil Struggle. After beforehand producing firearms just like the Pettengill revolver below contract, Rogers & Spencer designed their very own single-action .44 revolver in 1864. Securing a contract for five,000 from the Union Military, they impressively managed to totally ship on the order over 10 months in 1865 – a rarity for contractors of the period. Nevertheless, the struggle ended earlier than the well-made revolvers may see fight. Your entire manufacturing run of practically 5,000 revolvers went straight into storage unopened till 1902, once they have been offered as surplus to Francis Bannerman for simply 25 cents every. Whereas not adopted because the Union’s customary sidearm, the Rogers & Spencer represented the corporate’s competent firearms manufacturing talents. Their capacity to totally execute the Military’s order was a minor success, even when the timing prevented the revolvers’ difficulty. The few surviving examples right now are an fascinating glimpse right into a lesser-known Civil Struggle-era sidearm.
“These revolvers have been solely manufactured in 1865 and are very prime quality. 5,000 of the estimated 5,800 manufactured have been produced below contract for the U.S. Authorities, however they have been delivered too late to see use within the Civil Struggle. Most have been offered by way of Bannerman’s within the early twentieth century. This instance has customary single letter inspection marks all through and the “RPB” cartouche of inspector Captain R. P. Barry on the left grip. The barrel has a German silver cone entrance sight, and the highest strap has the usual markings and the groove rear sight.”
Lot 2120: U.S. Inspected Rogers & Spencer Military Mannequin Percussion Revolver. (n.d.-f). Rock Island Public sale Firm. {photograph}. Retrieved March 5, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/72/2120/us-inspected-rogers-spencer-army-model-percussion-revolver.