Pistols
Civil War soldiers were often photographed clutching a pistol, though in reality
many infantrymen found them too cumbersome to use and carry. These weapons
predominantly became the sidearms of choice for officers and cavalrymen.
GRANT, SHERMAN, AND TOTAL WAR 1864■^ .38 Caliber Pepperbox Pistol (Confederate and Union)^
Multiple-barrel weapons were popular from the 1830s to
the Civil War. They took their name from their resemblance
to a pepper grinder. ■ Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver
(Union) This six-shot .44 caliber revolver was the primary
sidearm of Union troops. The Federal Government ordered
more than 127,000. ■ Kerr Revolver (Confederate)
manufactured in Great Britain by the London Armoury
Company, the Kerr was used by the Confederate cavalry.
■^ LeMat Revolver (Confederate) The unique feature was
the second smoothbore barrel designed to fire buckshot.
LeMats were popular among high-ranking Confederate
officers, such as Jeb Stuart. ■ Dance Brothers Revolver
(Confederate) The Union blockade forced the Confederacy
to increase arms production. J. H. Dance and Brothers of
Columbia, Texas, manufactured between 325 and 500
revolvers modeled on the Colt Dragoon. ■ Smith &
Wesson Model 1 Revolver (Union) was the first firearm
produced by the company, commencing in 1857. It held
seven .22 short rimfire cartridges. ■ Spiller & Burr
Revolver (Confederate), a design based on the Whitney
Revolver. Spiller & Burr of Atlanta, Georgia, only managed to
produce about 1,500 revolvers due to labor and materials
shortages. ■ Remington New Model Army Revolver
(Union) This six-shot, .44 caliber revolver was the second
most issued pistol to Union soldiers after the Colt. ■■ Smith
& Wesson Old Army Model 2 (Union) This carried a more
powerful .32 cartridge than the Model 1. It was a popular
private purchase for soldiers. ■(; .44 Colt Army Revolver
in a typical contemporary holster. ■(2 Deringer Pistol
(Confederate and Union) Known as a “Pocket Pistol”
(and often misspelled as Derringer), this readily concealed
but effective weapon was sometimes carried for use in
emergencies. ■(3 Lefaucheux Pinfire Revolver (Confederate
and Union), imported from France and used low-power
cartridges. The Union replaced them later in the war as more
Colts and Remingtons became available. ■(4 .36 Colt Model
1861 Navy Revolver (Union) Manufactured from 1861 to
1873, it was designed much like the Colt Army Model 1860
but had a barrel one half-inch (12.7mm) shorter.
■(5^ .36 Caliber Ball Mold This brass mold was used to
produce lead slugs for pistols and could make nine at a time.■ DANCE BROTHERS
■ LEMAT
■ KERR
■ .44 COLT 1860 ARMY
■ .38 CALIBER PEPPERBOX