In this video I’m going to discuss what constituted common Every Day Carry guns during the cap & ball era. Mike Beliveau links / duelist mikebeliveau.com/
It hurts to hear you say that a Remington new model army that was used in the civil war could be had for $1.25!! 😩 I need to go back to work on my time machine.
In 2015 it was my pleasure to meet and become friends with a gent, and his wife, at a chain steak house in Maryland while celebrating The Lovely Bride's birthday. Frankly, his appearance startled me as I thought he was YOU (yeah, the resemblance was remarkable to say the least!!!). As it turned out he was a retired Rural Mail Carrier who was very much involved in CAS and BP firearms in general, so much so that his daily carry for many years had been a .31 Colt's reproduction. It was in 2015 that he had upgraded to a .36 caliber Colt's reproduction which, in late 2016, was itself replaced by a .36 caliber Remington reproduction that had been "slicked up" A LOT by a PA gunsmith. He also carried two spare, loaded cylinders in a coat pocket. All of the revolvers mentioned above were "snubbies" but retained their loading levers and were carried in hand made Old West style shoulder holsters in the winter when light jackets or coats were called for and in hand made and tooled high rise belt holsters in the warmer months when they could be covered by polo/golf shirts. I know my friend was still carrying the Remington daily as late as January 2019 when The Lovely Bride and I moved back home to our beloved South Carolina.
I went shooting my 49 pocket a few days ago and was shooting an old hard covered AA book which is pretty thick and with a 20 grain load of 777 under a 33 cal 00 buckshot at 5-7 feet it actually punched through the book just short of going through the back cover I was very impressed
Extremely interesting walk through time on this topic. The diversity of video types and topics is what makes your channel interesting to me. Thank you for sharing this information. I would be interested in more videos like this. A possible Part II might be popular concealed carry firearms during the years after cap & ball possibly 1880 - 1900. After 1900 I would believe the semi auto took over that market.
A show on leathers would be interesting--holsters. Also one on shotguns and cannons. historical battles.. a shooting review of the confederate revolvers. A re-visit to the Ruger Old Army--always intriguing. Today, Mike, which cap and ball revolvers would you recommend for the budget buyers with under a thousand dollars to spend.? How money was moved and "the weapons of gold protection"-- who were the Pinkertons and some of the early heists in train robberies. Mike you are a gifted storyteller and especially when these historical guns are involved-- maybe guns of the Spanish west.
Just purchased an Uberti replica of the 1849 pocket. Thank you for the video. I love to learn the history of the old firearms and you are a wonderful source of knowledge.
Mike, I would like to see an expansion of this topic (small hideaway guns) that transition the 20th century. The explosion of new manufacturers that became popular and were even sold in the Sears and Roebuck catalogs in the late 1800’s.
That's both easy and hard . Three main catagories : Breaktop Revolvers " Bulldog " Revolvers " Owlhead " Revolvers S&W Breaktops were the gold standard , mfg well into 20th Century . .32 S&W and .38S&W . Less expensive than SAA or No 3 , but not cheap . Lots of copies and knockoffs , ranging from servicable to junk . Genuine Webbly solid frame revolvers were excellent quality , size ranged up to " cutdown big gun " territory . Various actual model names , but generic term in US for British pattern solid revolvers was " Bulldog " . Lots of chamberings between .32 and .45 , some interchanged witg American ctgs , some primarily British. Seemingly every arms mfg in the world made copy/ knockoffs , ranging from servicable to junk American solid frame revolvers , .22 , .32, .38 . The recognizable names today are Iver Johnson and Herrington & Richardson . .22, .32, .38 Owlhead was actually an IJ motif , but a soft generic for the type . IJ and H&R has multiple brand names , plus lots of private label for various retailers . .22, .32, .38 . Actually IJ or H&R mfg are solid utility grade . Boatlaod of knockoffs , AND the difficulty of recognizing at first glance the dozens or hundreds of private label branding vs knock offs . IJ revolvers well into 20th Cen , H&R Revolvers in to 1970s . .
@@filianablanxart8305 thanks for the detailed explanation. I can see how this would be a nightmare topic to cover without adequate copies of the guns. Still, it would be an interesting few videos and Mike is an excellent history teacher!
This has always been my favourite pistol topic. Personal defence weapons especially custom ones. I mostly read about early 20th century pocket autos and double action revolvers but these are really neat too.
Why would anyone interested in cap and ball shooting not like a video topic like this? Especially being so well presented. When Mike gives a history lesson, I feel that we are getting a sound interpretation of how things were.
Agreed! While the field videos are fun, the shop videos are always informative and educational. As a builder and shooter of black powder reproduction weapons I always look forward to your tutorial and idea based videos. Keep 'em coming!
Very entertaining and informative video, firearm history is fascinating and using these old guns gives you an appreciation of how scary some situations could be.
Great video! I love the historical videos done by somebody like yourself, who actually knows what they are talking about. You support your statements with the numbers, without getting "Lost in the Weeds"; I appreciate that. Please continue this series, and the police guns video sounds like a fine idea!
Mike we enjoy all your videos. Every week we get to sit and visit with an old friend and get to learn more about our favorite subject.No apologies necessary old friend.
I like your “school days”. Your presentation was very informative, well researched and delivered in an entertaining way. You’re a great teacher. Thanks!
Good morning Mike, I just watched your latest video and I really enjoyed it I learned a lot, and I've always enjoyed old firearms Please make more videos like this, I really enjoy all your videos, thanks again
New to the channel and i love it! Im a history lover Civil War/ 1800's Era the most and all the video's ive watched on thus Channel has been amazing! Ive shot a Pietta 1851 44. For years and have enjoyed this very much. Love to learn more history
I love the history of the old west and also love cap & ball revolvers, I really enjoyed this video and learned a few things. To be honest I have enjoyed every video that you have made and have been playing catch up on others that I haven’t seen yet.
Love all your videos! I look for them everyday! Keep on doing any thing you want I will watch them all mike. They are great. Love the smoothbore and flint videos too! Take care!
Mike, another great video. History of firearm use and development is a very important part of understanding why we have the firearms we do today. I enjoyed the video.
I enjoyed this video, and hope you’ll keep doing more of these. Understand the snow / range issues, I’m not that far north of you and we’re clobbered too....
Because of a disagreement in 1975 with the Federal Government my right to protect myself and my family has been comprised . I now carry an 1860 Colt army 44 snub nose pietta . With practice I've been able to cross draw it and put 2 balls into a 6 inch disc at 10 feet in less than 2secs. It's not classified as a firearm by the government so I'm covered . Thanks for the tutorials . You have been a big help .
It's against state law for ex-cons to carry BP in my state (MS), and most of the states in my region. It's stupid, but it is what it is. Be careful out there.
Great video! I love learning about the 1800s era cap and ball anything. I've fairly recently got into BP. Have a 51 Navy 44 and a 58 Remington repos by Peitta. Bit of a James family history buff also. Franks favorite guns were the 51 Navy until the 58 Remington came out then switched to it and the later cartridge versions. He stuck with them until the 1911s came out. Which was well past his gang days. Did I mention him and Jesse are my first cousins? Like to throw that out there just to stur the pot. lol Seriously they really are. They're the reason I got into BP. Anyway you have a new subscriber. Like your honest approuch and opinions. Well presented.
Fascinating stuff, keep it coming Mike. History of rifle development, with the transition from flintlock to percussion to cartridge. Plus, the impact of the expansion West and the needs of explorers, hunters and pioneers, etc. compared to differing military requirements, would be very interesting!
Loved this presentation. What was popular when, relative numbers produced, and how business decisions affected relative popularity of guns in the cap and ball era is info I have not seen before. Kind of stuff this old engineer loves.
I'd imagine given the Remington style of retaining the cylinder pin with the loading lever was the reason people didn't cut the barrels down as that would remove the latch to hold the lever in place. They didn't have the idea of a spring loaded retainer like what you have on your Remington "Bulldog"
I really enjoyed this video Mike. Any topic regarding guns in early America would be interesting to me. I’d like to see a video on weapons of the French and Indian War, and your mention of early police guns sounds interesting to me too.
Mr. Mike Bellevue you and Paul Harrell are my favorite two firearm orators I would love to hear speeches and seminars from both of you gentlemen I always enjoy it thank you.
That was a very enjoyable and informative video. I have a Colt Richards cartridge conversion of the 1871/1872. It's based on the 1860 Navy and sports a barrel length of approximately 5,5 inches. It's very concealable under loose clothes. 44 Colt packs a wallop, lol. I wouldn't mind seeing a video on the Richards cartridge conversions. I know that there are a few videos on it already. But I like watching someone whom I know is truthful and knows their stuff.
Remember that Gus and his buddy were ex-Rangers. So, depending on the era during which he is supposed to have served, it is at least plausible that he'd have had a Walker and chosen to hang on to it (even if unlikely.) Great video, Mike! Full of useful and interesting info!
Very interesting video. Great information and comparisons. I’m a senior now, but when growing up, my dad had collected quite a few original cap and ball, as well as several reproduction. So I was fortunate enough to be a teenager who went shooting regularly with my dad. I still enjoy to this day.
Thanks Mike. I found this video to be a very interesting discussion subject. I'm sure that many of these handguns were popular well after the introduction of the cartridge revolvers just due to the notion that, that is what people already had. I look forward to more videos similar to this one. The one you suggested, "police revolvers" sounds very interesting.
Awesome as usual Mike! For those of us just getting into black powder shooting, these types of videos are invaluable. Please keep doing what you're doing!
Very interesting video. Well done. Shooting is more visually enhancing to most, but the history of the production was enlightening. I had never realized the disparity of the numbers between the Colt and Remington models. Keep it up!
I enjoy your videos very much, Mike. The history of everyday use of blackpowder rifles and pistols is very interesting. PLEASE MAKE MORE OF THIS TYPE OF VIDEO.
Very interesting indeed I really like the Colt pocket models my favorite being the 62 police .I could imagine them being made into a belly gun of sorts
The most common barrel length was 4.5 inches on those, so they usually left the factory as belly guns already. Only modern shooters buy the 6.5 inch barrels.
Thanks, Mike. Great presentation, well researched and absorbing. Don't think people aren't interested - I enjoy these videos (and learn a lot from them) as much as I do the shooting ones.
Mike, just want to say thank you for the video and taking the time to exchange texting the other day. The information you gave me helped in confirming my decision. I have five black powder pistols (for the wife, adult kids and myself) on the way, now I'll be looking for a few rifles to complement the pistol I'll be carrying, really like the Cimarron Remington 1858 Army Pistol Carbine. Even my wife is excited. We are going to get holsters for conceal carry, maybe even frontier style holsters to wear to town hahahaha. Thank you again.
I love a cut down Remington or Colt to just before the Ram Release polished and recorded with a replacement silver or nickel silver sight. I will take a 36 ( .357 ) but I love them in .44 (.452). The balance is perfect for me. I like them Cap and Ball or with the conversion. They are loads of fun, my Peacemakers are 45 4 3/4 inch barrels except for one with a 71/2 inch reproduction Custer Gun.
@@kirkmorrison6131 excellent taste , there’s just something about the feel of a short barreled colt. They just point so naturally. I had a .44 cal 1851 that I cut the barrel down and bought the conversion cylinder for. Those 45 colts in a snubbed revolver were so fun. I even used it cap and ball style by putting the loading lever back on the gun just to load a cylinder up. A bit cumbersome but worth it to me
@@Mikes_Life I agree even some times used the doing Cowboy Action Shooting. They fit perfectly and point perfectly. I have to hold them up like I'm using them but I watch the target and back stop and the target magically falls over with the cast conical. There are occasionally fliers with the round balls. I made a jig to run of six paper cartridges at once. It works great and I found Tops papers work best. Take the bullet set it on top of the dowel lick it and wrap it around the base of the bullet and seal the gum line down the dowel. Take a pin or needle dip it in Super Glue and wipe it at the paper and the bullet. Wait 2 minutes pull the empty casing off fill with your favorite charge of BP. Take the end and twist several times to seal. If you wish to use a wad set it on the dowel and when you glue the bullet do the same to wad Loading carefully align the paper cartridges slide in the cylinder until you need the Ram to seat the bullet. Repeat 5 times on most guns. Grease the chambers to prevent chain fire and cap. Set
If any in one wants to know how to make paper cartridges for these guns I will be happy to post them my set up was about 4 dollars and would be less if you have a base board of a reasonable size to use
Thoroughly enjoyed this video! A historical perspective of what we now enjoy as a hobby is always appreciated.👍 The road that is now I-25 from Raton Pass down to Trinidad, Colorado used to be part of a toll road started by Uncle Dick Wooten.
Great exploration of this misunderstood and indeed neglected subject. Most enjoyable! Another factor at play was also no doubt that in an age before antibiotics ay gsw , no matter how small was potentially deadly..Paper cartridges were also extremely popular making c&b revolvers quickly reloadable, relative to loose powder and conical (which were almost universally prefered). However in a hot encounter I believe a New York reload would have been used . Anyway fantastic video Mike your grasp of this poorly covered subject is unique and you stand alone it seems in its coverage on RU-vid. I am always learning extremely interesting information about this and other gun topics from your excellent and entertaining channel. Please do more videos on this, and other misunderstood and neglected firearms subjects. Who says snow storms don't lead to awesome videos. Again really excellent and enjoyable !!
Just for your information the raiders in the civil war which used these colts were braced with several of them in their waistbands ready to go. No need to reload just pull out another pistol and start firing. And the quantrell and his bunch were very good shots. The Texas rangers had to practice with their Colt Patterson to where they could hit a 6-in plate on the run I don't remember what the yardage was sorry.
I could listen to you all day Mike. A real pleasure learning history. I know you’re not a spur trigger fan, but I prefer the Remington mini. Same power as the Colt, but lighter, looks sleeker. Would they have sold for the same price? Blessings from England.
Keep up the videos Mike, can’t get enough of them! And do what ever you want, I like pretty much everything you do. Do you know if there are reproductions of Cap and ball revolvers that have been built to shoot smokeless? And when did people start to carry more concealed guns? As I’m sure I read that many years ago people seen concealing a weapon as cowardly and Such. And on the subject of concealable revolvers, what small revolvers did Colt, S&W and Remington make during the cartridge era? (Would it have been cut down SAA and Schofields?) Edit: another question is about the old western towns that had gun control measures. How effective was gun control back then in these towns? As a lot of places today who have similar laws don’t work so well. I’ve also read the 1800s in the US was pretty peaceful and I alway attributed that to everyone having guns.
@@phillipkalaveras1725 actually there is one. I use Bullseye in my NAA Companion. There are tons of people that do. That is the ONLY revolver I would recommend using smokeless in because it is a .22 caliber, and you can’t fit enough powder to blow it up. But as far as any big bore revolvers, there are none that can handle smokeless reliably and safely.
@@phillipkalaveras1725 Thanks, and can I why the “NO!”? I and a few others have spoken about having such a gun for ease of cleaning and having the ability to shoot all types of powder.
@@poncholefty471 Thanks for that information! And I wish they would make smokeless cap and ball, I’ve seen they make blackpowder only SAA and Smokeless rated ones.
On the middle question - Colt House Revolver (1871) , Open Top Pocket Model , New Line . S&W - Entire line of Breaktops in .32 and .38 A wide variety of Iver Johnson and H&R revolvers , plus even larger number of knockoffs , both solid frame ( non- swing out) and breaktop . Various solid frame Webley in multiple models and calibers , and many , many knockoffs , all generically known as Bulldogs . Imp
The police gun video would be awesome. I really like this format (as much, if not more, than your shooting videos). These videos put the guns in context, which some times doesn't happen much in the shooting videos. Here's two other things I've fascinated in that I can't find things about on RU-vid: 1) I shoot 45-70 from a Pedersoli Rolling Block with 1:20 500 grain rounds over Accurate 5744. A TON of the old manuals mark this powder as the most accurate and it gets a mentioned here and there on forums, but all of the current "buffalo rifle" stuff on RU-vid seems focused on black powder rounds or other very high power 45-70 rounds. I'd love to know more about 5744, shooting smokeless in Pedersolis, what accuracy people were getting back during the buffalo days, etc. 2) I'd also love for you to do more "everyday carry" eras like the teens and 20s. It seems like legal carry of firearms wasn't an option, or at least a popular one, for most people from the 30s through most of the 70s. So maybe do the 80s and 90s, too. 3) A history on concealed carry would be interesting as well.
