COLT'S REVOLVER, CALIBRE .45.
This revolver is retained, for the present, for light batteries, and experiments are now being made to ascertain if a shorter barrel can not be advantageously used.
Fig. 71.
Nomenclature.—(A) barrel; (B) frame; (B′) recoil-plate; (C) cylinder; (DD) centre-pin; (D′) centre-pin bushing; (E) guard; (F) back-strap; (G) hammer; (H) mainspring; (I) hammer-roll and rivet; (J) hammer-screw; (K) hammer-cam; (L) hand and hand-spring; (M) bolt and screw; (N) trigger and screw; (O) hammer-notches; (P) firing-pin and rivet; (Q) ejector-rod and spring; (Q′) ejector-tube; (R) ejector-head; (S) ejector-tube screw; (T) short guard-screw; (U) sear and bolt-spring (combined) and screw; (V) back-strap screw; (W) mainspring-screw; (X) front sight; (Y) centre-pin screw. The two back-strap screws just behind the hammer, the stock, the long guard-screw, gate, gate-catch screw, gate-spring, and gate-catch are not shown in [Fig. 71].
To Load.—Hold the revolver in the left hand, muzzle downward; half-cock it with the right hand and open the gate. Insert the cartridges with the right hand, close the gate, and bring the hammer to the safety-notch. Keep it there until the revolver is fired.
To Eject the Cartridge-shells.—Hold the revolver in the left hand, at the half-cock, and with the gate open. Eject the shells with the ejector, pushed by the right hand, turning the cylinder with the thumb and fore finger of the left hand.
To Dismount the Revolver.—Half-cock the revolver, loosen the centre-pin catch-screw, draw out the centre-pin, open the gate, and the cylinder can then be withdrawn. To remove the ejector, turn out the ejector-tube screw, then push the front end away from the barrel, and pull it towards the muzzle. The stock can be removed by turning out the two back-strap screws just behind the hammer, and that at the bottom of the strap. Remove the mainspring and guard: the parts of the lock can then be readily separated. The centre-pin bushing should be pushed out for cleaning. To remove the gate, turn out the gate-screw in the lower side of the frame (hidden by the guard); then the gate-spring and catch can be withdrawn and the gate pushed out.
To Assemble the Revolver.—See the directions for dismounting, which should be followed in inverse order. The mainspring is most conveniently mounted by turning in the screw part way, and then swinging around the front end of the mainspring until it bears against the under side of the friction-roll. The cylinder-bushing should be frequently removed for cleaning.
Dimensions and Weights.—The following table gives the principal dimensions, weights, etc., of the revolver:
DIMENSIONS.
| Total length | 12.5 | inches. |
| Length of barrel | 7.5 | " |
| Diameter of bore | 0.445 | " |
| Grooves—number | 6 | |
| Grooves twist, uniform, one turn in (left-handed) | 16 | " |
| Grooves depth, uniform | .005 | in. |
WEIGHTS.
| Total weight | 2.5 | lbs. |
| Weight of powder-charge | 28 | grs. |
| Weight of bullet | 230 | " |
| Initial velocity | 730 | ft.-sec. |
The cartridge-case is metallic centre-fire, and resembles in its construction the rifle cartridge.
Rapidity of Fire.—Eighteen rounds in one minute and fifty-four seconds, beginning and ending with chambers empty.
PENETRATION IN WHITE PINE.
| Range, yds | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 | 300 |
| Inches | 3¾ | 3½ | 3⅛ | 2¾ | 2½ | 2¼ |
COST OF AMMUNITION.
| Ball cartridges | $10.00 | per | 1000 |
| Blank cartridges | 8.30 | " | " |
PRICE-LIST OF COMPONENT PARTS OF COLT'S REVOLVER.
| Components. | Price. |
| Frame | $4 10 |
| Recoil-plate | 05 |
| Gate | 55 |
| Gate-spring | 01 |
| Gate-catch | 01 |
| Barrel | 1 60 |
| Front sight | 05 |
| Cylinder | 1 60 |
| Centre-pin | 18 |
| Centre-pin bushing | 20 |
| Ejector-tube | 1 05 |
| Ejector-rod | 17 |
| Ejector-head | 25 |
| Ejector-spring | 07 |
| Hammer | 55 |
| Hammer-cam | 01 |
| Hammer-roll | 02 |
| Hammer-roll rivet | 01 |
| Firing-pin | 05 |
| Firing-pin rivet | 01 |
| Guard | 50 |
| Back-strap | 30 |
| Mainspring | 10 |
| Trigger | 10 |
| Bolt | 10 |
| Hand | 10 |
| Hand-spring | 02 |
| Stock | 35 |
| Long guard screw (2), 1c. ea. | 02 |
| Short guard-screw (2) " | 02 |
| Back-strap screw (3) " | 03 |
| Hammer-screw | 05 |
| Trigger-screw | 04 |
| Bolt-screw | 02 |
| Centre-pin screw | 02 |
| Ejector-tube screw | 02 |
| Gate-catch screw | 01 |
| Mainspring screw | 02 |
| Sear-spring screw | 02 |
| Sear-spring | 02 |
| Screw-driver | 10 |
| Revolver complete | $12 50 |
ALLOWANCE OF AMMUNITION.
Each enlisted man and officer of a battery is allowed for revolver practice ammunition to the value of $1.00.
Each battery is allowed 5000 rounds of blank ammunition.
Battery commanders will keep a permanent record for each calendar year of the amount of ammunition expended at each target practice.
Ammunition not expended at the end of the year (December 31) is no longer available.
HUNTING-KNIFE.
A model, having a blade 12 inches long, and similar in shape to the regular bowie-knife, is now under consideration by the War Department.
CHAPTER V.
Care and Fitting, etc., of Harness. Care of Carriages. Care of Guns. Care of Ammunition. Guard Orders.