Hayes,

Sounds like we both actually agree, I have no doubt that there was considerable usage of pinfires in the Confederate service - and my apologies if it looked like I was miffed - I was not at all. It has always been a subject that I enjoy discussing, since my days in the Trans-Mississippi as a digger. Pinfire rounds were a fairly common thing to find in Union Cav camps there and I have been interested in them ever since.

I think Chris had found documentation for Federal purchase of about 12,300 of these revolvers. Not a huge number - but still the 4th most common Union revolver, after the Colt's, Remingtons, and Starr's. The general rule of the serial number range of 24,000 to 37,000 seems to be pretty valid. These would be the ones with spur triggerguards and the lanyard ring - Although I think that there are a few out there within that range that are "Navy - 12MM" varieties.

They were not always well loved though - my guess is that the ammo - especially the European "shorties" turned the pistol into an underpowered "Poot" sort of gun. No thunder, or cloud of smoke to be sure. A diary account of a company officer of the 3rd Wisc Cav. mentioned turning in their French revolvers and replacing them with Colt's, and in his words "A much superior arm"

Hope this is of interest - Gene