The Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer, also known as the Colt Root Revolver after engineer Elisha K. Root (1808–1865), was a cap & ball

single-action A trigger is a mechanism that actuates the function of a ranged weapon such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow, or speargun. The word may also be used to describe a switch that initiates the operation of other non-shooting devices such as a tra ...

pocketrevolver used during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and t ...

and made by the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company

Calibers and variants

In the revolver configuration of the patented revolving mechanism, only one model of the revolver was produced. Two calibers for the revolver were: .28 and .31. The production of the revolver started in 1855 and lasted until 1870. In spite of the complexity and ambition of its patented design, the Sidehammer revolver never reached the status of a popular gun.The Sidehammer as described in the Autry Museum
, a Museum dealing with the people and the history of the American West

Model series

Production began in 1855 with the Model 1 followed by the Model 1A and then the Model 2 beginning with serial number "1" and ending in 1860 at about "25,000". These models had a roller-die engraved scene referred to as the "Cabin and Indian" scene. Production continued with the Model 3 which has a fluted cylinder

Barrels, cylinders

The standard barrel length was 3-1/2 inches (4-1/2 inches for the Model 5A, 6A, and 7A). Calibers were .28 (Model 1 - 3). .31 (Models 3A, 4, 5, 6, 7). Octagon barrels (Model 1 - 4). Round barrels (Model 5 - 7). The cylinder scene engraved on the first 25,000 pistols was created by banknote engraver Waterman Ormsby. The image was his fourth and last to be featured on Colt revolvers. The overall scene is 1-1/16 inch wide by 3-1/4 inch long. At one end of the scene is the text, "COLT'S PATENT No. erial number. The image contains a pioneer defending himself against an attack by six Indians in

Seminole The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, ...

-style attire using a pair of revolver pistols while (presumably) his wife and child are escaping. Along the top of the scene (the edge of the cylinder which is closest to the pistol barrel) is a "finely detailed wavy line and dot border". Models 3, 4, and 5 had a fluted cylinder (with indentations between the loading chambers), preventing the application of a continuously engraved scene. Some cylinders were decoratively hand-engraved. Models 6 and 7 had a round cylinder, with the rolled-on "Stagecoach Holdup" scene by W. L. Ormsby.

Influences in later Colt firearms

In 1855 the Sidehammer was the first Colt revolver to use the "creeping" loading lever. This loading mechanism was used again in 1860 in the design of the

Colt Army Model 1860 The Colt Army Model 1860 is a cap & ball .44-caliber single-action revolver used during the American Civil War made by Colt's Manufacturing Company. It was used as a side arm by cavalry, infantry, artillery troops, and naval forces. History ...

, the Colt Navy Model 1861, and the Colt Police Model 1862. In 1855 the Sidehammer was the first Colt's solid-frame spur-trigger gun. This anatomical characteristic was taken again when the three models of the Colt

Derringer A derringer is a small handgun that is neither a revolver nor a semi/ fully automatic pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or pocket pistols, although some later derringers were manufactured with the pepperbox configuration. ...

started production in 1870. For the two first models production lasted in 1890, and the third model ended in 1912 (until it was re-released in the 1950s for western movies, under the name of the fourth model Colt Derringer). But in the Colt Derringers, the solid-frame spur-trigger design was still present in the patent when Colt's purchased the National Arms Company in 1870. Actual original Colt models subsequent to the Sidehammer and inheriting a solid frame and a spur trigger were the Colt House (1871) and the Colt New Line (1873). The revolving mechanism of the cylinder was also used by Colt in the following long arms, in rifle and carbine configurations: * Colt Model 1855 "First Model" Sporting Rifle * Colt Model 1855 Half Stock Sporting Rifle * Colt Model 1855 Full Stock Sporting Rifle * Colt Model 1855 Military Rifle and Rifled Musket * Colt Model 1855 Revolving Carbine * Colt Model 1855 Revolving Shotgun Roots patent revolver1855

References

{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 American Civil War weapons Black-powder pistols Colt revolvers Guns of the American West Single-action revolvers