Pistol Trivia Question:

In Clint Eastwood's Westerns, Pale Rider and Unforgivin, he uses a revolver with an octagon barrel. In Pale Rider he was able to remove the cylinder and swap it with a new one. These movies take place in the late 1800's. What type of pistol would this be in that time period? Does it use a cartridge or cap and ball?

Thanks,

probably a cap&ball as there would be no other reason to change cylinder during a gunfight. octagon barre suggests maybe a navy colt.

One of the Colt open top revolvers. Could be a cap and ball, cartridge conversion or one of the Colt factory open-top cartridge revolvers...

Sam A. Kersh NRA Patron Member L.E.A.A. Life Member TSRA Life Member GOA, JPFO, SAF

#In Clint Eastwood's Westerns, Pale Rider and Unforgivin, he uses a revolver #with an octagon barrel. In Pale Rider he was able to remove the cylinder and #swap it with a new one. These movies take place in the late 1800's. What #type of pistol would this be in that time period? Does it use a cartridge or #cap and ball?

Bob,

From what I remember from Pale Rider idea was that the revolver was a converted cap and ball. It was somewhat popular in the later part of the 1800s to have a gunsmith drill out the backs of the cyclinder so that the cartridges of the period could be used. It was not all that unusual to have second cyclinder to match. This could be considered as something just like the speedloaders used by revolver enthusiasts today.

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