[Illustration: MR. F. E. BENNETT, Expert Pistol and Revolver Shot.]
THE MODERN AMERICAN PISTOL AND REVOLVER
INCLUDING
A DESCRIPTION OF MODERN PISTOLS AND
REVOLVERS OF AMERICAN MAKE; AMMUNITION
USED IN THESE ARMS; RESULTS ACCOMPLISHED;
AND SHOOTING-RULES FOLLOWED BY AMERICAN
MARKSMEN
BY A. C. GOULD
_Editor of The Rifle_
BOSTON
A. C. GOULD & CO., PUBLISHERS
1888
Copyright, 1888
BY A. C. GOULD & CO.
PRESS OF
Rockwell & Churchill,
BOSTON.
PREFACE.
For many years the author was among the great number of persons who
believed it was impossible to do fine shooting with a pistol beyond a few
yards, and out of the question to secure much accuracy from a revolver.
With the object of learning the limit of accuracy these arms possessed, a
great many experiments were arranged and exhibitions given by the most
skilful marksmen to be found. The spirit of rivalry soon became apparent,
and, without doubt, has considerably aided in determining the
possibilities of the pistol and revolver.
The author feels that his labors have not been in vain, as he has the
testimony of manufacturers of these arms, as well as cartridge-makers,
that the results obtained within a period of three years are finer than it
was thought possible.
As we close this little volume it is apparent that revolver and pistol
shooting is about to become a very popular sport; the cavalry and
artillery of the National Guard in America are likely soon to be equipped
with and instructed in the use of the revolver. As pistol practice
increases in popularity, events herein recorded will, doubtless, be
equalled and excelled many times.
The author begs to acknowledge courtesies extended to him by Messrs. Smith
& Wesson; Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Co.; Merwin, Hulbert, & Co.; Union
Metallic Cartridge Co.; United States Cartridge Co.; Messrs. Wm. R.
Schaefer & Son; John P. Lovell Arms Co.; as well as the many professional
and amateur shots who have devoted time and money to aid in developing the
American pistol and revolver.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER I
American Pistols and Revolvers 5
CHAPTER II.
Single-Shot Pistols--Description of Various American Patterns 9
CHAPTER III.
American Revolvers--Smith & Wesson's Productions 21
CHAPTER IV.
The Merwin, Hulbert, & Co.'s Revolvers 36
CHAPTER V.
The Colt's Revolver 46
CHAPTER VI.
Sights for Revolvers and Pistols 56
CHAPTER VII.
Ammunition for Pistols and Revolvers 64
CHAPTER VIII.
Reloading Ammunition for Pistols and Revolvers 75
CHAPTER IX.
The Possibilities of the Revolver--Results of Revolver-firing
up to Fifty Yards 90
CHAPTER X.
Pistol and Revolver Shooting at Long Range 116
CHAPTER XI.
Rules for Pistol and Revolver Shooting 126
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
Portrait of Mr. F. E. Bennett _Frontispiece_
Stevens Target Pistol (Lord Model) 11
" " " (Conlin Model) 13
Remington Single-Shot Pistol 15
New 6-inch Barrel Stevens Pistol 16
Colt's National Deringer 17
Remington Vest-Pocket Pistol 19
Smith & Wesson .32-calibre Single-Action Revolver 23
Smith & Wesson Revolver (Russian Model) Single Action 25
Smith & Wesson Revolver (Russian Model) Double Action 27
Smith & Wesson Hammerless Safety Revolver 33
Opening the Merwin, Hulbert, & Co. Revolver 37
Merwin, Hulbert, & Co.'s Revolver--Manner of Ejecting Shells 39
Colt's Revolver, .38-calibre, Double Action 51
" " (Frontier Model) 53
" " (Army Model) 53
Sights for Revolvers and Pistols 58, 59, 61
Chevalier Ira A. Paine 60
Winchester Reloading Tool 76
Ideal Reloading Tool 79
Target made by Mr. F. E. Bennett 84, 100, 114
Target made by Mr. George Bird 92, 96
" " " Mr. Pierre Lorillard, Jr. 94
" " " Mr. J. T. B. Collins 99
" " " Mr. Allen P. Kelly 103
" " " Chevalier Ira A. Paine 105
" " " Mr. W. W. Bennett 108
" " " Mr. D. D. Davis 109
" " " Mr. George Bird 110
Position, Mr. F. E. Bennett 112
" Chevalier Ira A. Paine 115
" Mr. W. W. Bennett 117
" Mr. B. J. Robertson 119
" Mr. Walter Winans 121
" Miss Annie Oakley 127
Standard American Target 125
Holsters 129, 131
Six shots with Colt's Frontier Model Revolver 135
THE MODERN AMERICAN PISTOL AND REVOLVER.
CHAPTER I.
During the years the author has been interested in studying fire-arms, and
endeavoring to learn the greatest amount of accuracy it was possible to
secure from them, his attention has frequently been attracted to the
statements of individuals in relation to pistols and revolvers, which were
mostly in the form of contributions to sportsmen's journals, or in books
chronicling the adventures of living heroes of the plains and
backwoods,--many of the latter passing through the author's hands for
review and criticism. It was noticeable that brief matter in relation to
pistols and revolvers, which was found in print, came from two
classes,--one making the most absurd statements in relation to feats
performed with these arms, which were entirely beyond the possibilities of
both arms and ammunition, and which were immediately recognized as coming
from parties who knew little or nothing about the subject. The statements
which came from the other class--the contributors to sportsmen's
journals--were evidently from parties who had expected to perform the
impossible feats, and, failing to do so, poured out their wrath in print,
condemning the makers of the arms, and making libellous statements in
reference to the arms, which at once indicated that it was lack of skill,
rather than imperfections in the tools.
All skilled marksmen who have handled the modern American pistol and
revolver must be aware that those of standard make are strong, well-made,
safe, and accurate. It is believed that no attempt has ever been made to
learn the possibilities of the various weapons, the greatest accuracy,
range, and power, and record them for comparison in a single volume.
Government tests have been made by the Ordnance Department, but its work
has been almost wholly with revolvers suitable for military purposes. As
there are a number of weapons which possess power, accuracy, and are in
every way equal in effectiveness to those accepted by military
authorities, it is apparent that the reports of government tests do not
fully represent all of the weapons which would properly be classed as
weapons of defence or suitable for military purposes.
Any attempt to record an historical account of the inventions and
improvement in the American pistol and revolver would, doubtless, prove
uninteresting to a majority of the readers of this work, and have but
little practical value; we therefore refrain from any mention of priority
of invention or description of the arms of early manufacture, and confine
our descriptions of the pistol and revolver of to-day. Those in use at the
present time, for extensive and elaborate experiments and investigations,
have impressed the author with the fact that improvements have constantly
been going on, and that the pistol and revolver of the present time are as
much superior to those produced a quarter of a century ago as the modern
rifle is superior to the ancient flint-lock musket. The world moves,
mechanical skill improves, artistic knowledge of form and symmetry is each
year combined with mechanical ingenuity, and at the present time the
American pistol and revolver has reached a degree of perfection previously
unknown; and it is our purpose to describe in this volume the modern
pistol and revolver of American make, those manufactured in quantity known
in trade, and procurable by any one desiring to secure a safe and reliable
weapon. There are a few pistols made in this country by hand, but the
number is so small that they are unknown to the trade; and, although great
stories have occasionally reached us of the accuracy of these arms, we
have never yet found one which would begin to compare with the accuracy of
those constructed by manufacturers who have made the perfection of the arm
a study of years. The standard single-shot pistols of American make at
the present time are the Stevens, Remington, and Wesson. The revolvers,
the Smith & Wesson, Colt's, Merwin & Hulbert, and Remington. The country
is flooded with revolvers of other make, some of them good enough for the
purpose intended, for a very short-range weapon of defence, among them the
products of the Marlin Arms Co., the American Arms Co., and Harrington &
Richardson; but a majority of the revolvers to be found throughout the
country are cheaply made, unreliable, inaccurate, and, above all, unsafe,
and endanger the lives of those who attempt to use them, though they bear
names high-sounding enough to captivate rustics and juvenile purchasers;
and this has always seemed to the author to be the chief cause of so many
condemning the modern revolver. All of the pistols and revolvers described
in the following chapters have been carefully and thoroughly tested by
expert marksmen, a careful comparison made, and the results given, unless
specified, are not the finest results obtainable by the best experts; but
the average results secured, and those it is believed to be within the
reach of ordinary marksmen possessing an average amount of health and
strength.