Advertisements

Remington Model 1858 Army

Six-Shot Percussion Revolver [ 1861 ]

The Remington Model 1858 proved hugely popular during the American Civil War for its inherent structural strength, firepower and reliability.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 02/26/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

Advertisements

Remington Arms gained considerable popularity during the American Civil War (1861-1865) with their line of rugged and reliable six-shooters. Use of a frame "strap" above the cylinder improved the structure over that of competing Colts which utilized an open frame that could lead to "frame stretching" over time. The Remington Model 1858 Army appeared prior to the war and continued use of the top-strap frame design. While stamped with the year of "1858", many Remington Model 1858s did not see widespread circulation until 1861-1862. Production totaled 132,000 examples from 1862 into 1875. Design of the Model 1858 was attributed to Fordyce Beals whose surname appeared on several preceding Remington guns.

The Model 1858 featured a brass trigger guard, an octagonal barrel assembly and the Remington-style "web" at the loading lever - all which added to the classic Remington "look". The hammer lay exposed at the rear of the frame in the usual way, accessible by the primary hand's thumb for easier management. Sights were fitted at the front and rear of the gun which held an effective range out to 75 yards. The trigger was laid within an oblong loop and just ahead of the well-curved wood-covered grip handle. The cylinder lay at the center of the gun in the usual way. Overall weight was 2lbs, 13oz with a running length of 13.25 inches. Barrels measured 8 inches long.

Advertisements

The Model 1858 fired from a six-chamber revolving cylinder. Each chamber was filled individually through either powder-and-ball or paper cartridges depending on the period and gun actual model. The latter proved popular as time wore on though these were eventually replaced by full cartridge conversions. The chambers were rammed by an integrated ramming lever seated under the barrel and aligned against one chamber at a time. Loading was through the front opening of each chamber located at the front of the cylinder proper.

As a percussion revolver, the Model 1858 utilized the "percussion cap" method of actuation. These caps (akin to a child's toy cap pistol) were placed upon nipples found at each chamber base along the cylinder to which the hammer action acted upon the cap, a resulting spark igniting the powder or propellant seated in the chamber. The resulting pressures forced the ball or bullet out of the muzzle of the barrel through basic physics. Muzzle velocity was rated between 550 and 1,290 feet per second which gave the gun good man-stopping power. The trigger was of either single- or double-action form depending on model purchased.

The Remington Model 1858 eventually saw widespread use throughout the American Civil War (by both Union and the Confederate armies) and globally. It managed its way to Britain, France, Japan, Mexico and Russia as well as seeing use through American Indian tribes. Many saw combat service after the Civil War through the American Indian Wars, the violent American "Wild West" period and during the Franco-Prussian War. Beginning in 1858, existing guns were offered a conversion process to .46 rimfire self-contained cartridges. Other conversions eventually included .32 rimfire, .38/100 rimfire and .44 Remington.

Specifications

Service Year

1861

Origin

United States

Classification

Six-Shot Percussion Revolver

Remington Arms - USA

(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)

National flag of the Confederate States of America

Confederate States; France; Japan; Mexico; Russia; United Kingdom; United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Pistol / Sidearm
Compact design for close-quarters work or general self-defense.

Overall Length

342 mm
13.46 in

Barrel Length

203 mm
7.99 in

Empty Wgt

2.80 lb
1.27 kg

Sights

Front and Rear Iron

Action

Single- or Double-Action; Rotating Cylinder; Percussion Cap

Percussion Cap
Utilizes the percussion cap system of operation to actuate ignition of propellant; much like a child's cap gun, small explosive caps are set upon nipples and these are actuated by a falling hammer previously cocked.

(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)

Caliber(s)*

.31; .36; .44; .32 RF; .38/100; .44 Remington; .46 rimfire

Rounds / Feed

6-round cylinder

*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.

Max Eff.Range

300 ft
(91 m | 100 yd)

Rate-of-Fire

6
rds/min

Muzzle Velocity

750 ft/sec
(229 m/sec)

Model 1858 - Base Series Designation

Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.

Advertisements

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2022 US Military Pay Army Ranks Navy Ranks Marine Ranks Air Force Ranks USCG Ranks Compare Ranks (NEW!) DoD Dictionary Military Ribbons Identification Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols American War Deaths French Military Victories Vietnam War Casualties

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), and SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane.

www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-

Infantry Small Arms / The Warfighter

Remington Model 1858 Army

Six-Shot Percussion Revolver [ 1861 ]

The Remington Model 1858 proved hugely popular during the American Civil War for its inherent structural strength, firepower and reliability.

Specifications