Colt M1892
| Colt M1892 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Revolver |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by |
United States Army United States Navy Federal Army |
| Wars |
Spanish–American War Philippine–American War Boxer Rebellion Mexican Revolution World War I |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Colt |
| Designed | 1892 |
| Manufacturer | Colt |
| Produced | 1892–1908 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 2.07 pounds (.94 kg) |
| Length | 11.5 inches (292 mm) |
| Barrel length | 6 inches (152 mm) |
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|
|
| Cartridge | .38 Long Colt, .41 Long Colt |
| Action | Double Action revolver |
| Muzzle velocity | 770 ft/s (235 m/s) |
| Feed system | 6-round cylinder, single-shot |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The M1892 Colt Army & Navy was the first general issue double-action with a swing-out cylinder revolver used by the U.S. military.
In 1892 the gun was adopted by the Army in .38 Long Colt caliber, and the revolver was given the appellation New Army and Navy. Initial experience with the gun caused officials to request some improvements. This would be an ongoing condition, resulting in Models 1892, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1901 and 1903, as well as a Model 1905 Marine Corps variant.
The revolver featured a counter-clockwise rotating cylinder, which could be opened for loading and ejection by simply pulling back on a catch mounted on the left side of the frame behind the recoil shield. It was easily manipulated by the thumb of the right hand, and upon release the cylinder could be poked out sideways with the shooter's forefinger. Empty cases were removed by simply pushing back on an ejector rod to activate a star extractor. The six-shooter could then be quickly reloaded and the cylinder clicked back into place.
Sights were the basic rounded front blade and topstrap notch. The finish on all military revolvers was blue, though civilian guns could be had nickeled or with other special finishes and embellishments.
The M1892's counter-clockwise cylinder rotation tended to force the cylinder out of alignment with the frame over time, and this was exacerbated by relatively weak lockwork used to time or match individual chambers to the barrel. In 1908, Colt improved and strengthened the lockwork, and changed the cylinder rotation to a clockwise movement.
A Model 1892 revolver was recovered from the USS Maine after it exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898. It was presented to then-Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt, who would later become President of the United States. Roosevelt brandished this pistol to rally his Rough Riders during the famed charge up San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898. This revolver was on display at Sagamore Hill and was stolen from there in 1963, recovered and then stolen again in 1990. It was recovered in 2006 and returned to Sagamore Hill on June 14, 2006.
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Wikipedia