The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
In Response To: Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle? ()

Gentlemen,
Thanks for the replies. The Wesson Rifle factory burned mid-war and by the time production resumed the government regarded the arm as obsolescent and inferior to most of what was in service (it seems they were almost exclusively purchasing Spencers by then); it was never really a popular arm to begin with. The Wesson's reputation for accuracy seems to have come with the post war cartridge-target model rather than the cavalry carbine. Ans the ergonomics were awful even by the standards of the day. On the other hand, since the federal government did not resume purchases after the company rebuilt the factory they may have sold rifles to private purchasers, like the men of the 5th. The question is whether the 5th would have had them by fall of 1864. I never meant to imply the men had purchased Volcanic rifles, by the way and I discount my theory on the Henry as the cost was high and these men were not paid a bounty; in fact they barely seem to have been paid at all although they were refunded for use of their privately owned horses and saddles. The Smith carbine idea intrigues me, but I can't find any records of purchases by other than the federal and a few state governments; I'll keep looking.
Again many thanks; you've given me several new routes for inquiry.

Messages In This Thread

Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
Wartime reputation of the Wesson Rifle
Re: Wartime reputation of the Wesson Rifle
Re: Wartime reputation of the Wesson Rifle
Re: Smith & Wesson Rifle?
They were Wesson's
Re: They were Wesson's
Re: They were Wesson's
Re: They were Wesson's
Re: They were Wesson's
Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition
Re: Had a lot of Ballard's ammunition