Fordyce Beals was an engineer and designer who started out working for Eli Whitney and made a great contribution to cap and ball revolvers with his patented rammer/cylinder pin mechanism. Much like Roots contribution to Colt that smooths out that operation with the "walking/creeping rammer found on the 1860, the Beals patent simplified and improved this critical operation in cap and ball technology.
Beals moves on to work for Remington and not only takes the patent for his rammer, but Whitney's whole revolver. The 1858 Remington becomes an accurate powerhouse gun favored by both sides of the civil war. You can see the direct similarities between the Whitney on top and the Remington below. The 1858 is a great success for Remington and the design will go on to the 1875 and finally fade out. Sadly Remington is never able keep up with Colt after the introduction of the 1873 SAA and while the 1875 sells, issues with bore diameter brand the gun as being inaccurate.
I'm asked sometimes what BP revolver is best to buy if you only have one. Being a Colt guy you wouldn't think I would endorse the Remington, but the construction is simple and robust and other than an easily removable barrel for cleaning there is no advantage to the
Colt other than it looks good.
Beals moves on to work for Remington and not only takes the patent for his rammer, but Whitney's whole revolver. The 1858 Remington becomes an accurate powerhouse gun favored by both sides of the civil war. You can see the direct similarities between the Whitney on top and the Remington below. The 1858 is a great success for Remington and the design will go on to the 1875 and finally fade out. Sadly Remington is never able keep up with Colt after the introduction of the 1873 SAA and while the 1875 sells, issues with bore diameter brand the gun as being inaccurate.
I'm asked sometimes what BP revolver is best to buy if you only have one. Being a Colt guy you wouldn't think I would endorse the Remington, but the construction is simple and robust and other than an easily removable barrel for cleaning there is no advantage to the
Colt other than it looks good.
