Welcome to Mattie's Gun Shop

The Revolvers

Mattie holds a Colt Revolver Model 1873.

The Colt

Call aims an 1873 Peacemaker.	Austin displays a long-barreled Colt Peacemaker.

By far, the most popular weapon featured on Lonesome Dove is the Colt Peacemaker.

History of the Colt:

In the years 1848 through 1860, one of the most popular models was the single-action, Colt Model 1849. In this model, a 5-shot cylinder was standard, though the .31 revolvers were made with both 5- and 6-shot cylinders. The barrels ranged from 3 to 6 inches, and squared cylinder stop slots were standard. The cylinder scene featured a stage coach robbery. The guns were blued with some color case-hardening.

Model 1851 was known as the .36 Navy Colt or the Old Model Belt Pistol. This single-action revolver was 13 inches overall, with a 7 1/2 in. barrel. It weighed 2 1/2 lbs. The cylinder periphery featured the scene of the Battle of Campeche, an little known skirvish where Texans beat the Mexicans on May 16, 1843. It was used during the American Civil War, and it was favored for balance.

The commercial double-action Colts were produced from 1877 to 1909. The .38 calibre model was named "Lightening," while the .41 and .45 were dubbed "Thunderer" and "Omnipotent," respectively. "Lightenings" had barrels 1 1/2 to 10 inches long. There were no ejectors on barrels shorter than 4 1/2 inches. "Omnipotents" accepted a wide variety of cartridges. The standard, "Omnipotent" was blued with walnut grips. The barrels were 3 to 7 1/2 inches long. Again, the shorter barrels were ejectorless. The "Sheriff's" or "House" pattern double-action Colts had spurless hammers. Compared to the single-action army Colt, the "Lightening" and "Thunderer" locks were fragile. The experienced firer had to use extra effort to pull through on the trigger, but his attention usually paid off in the end.

The Colt Peacemaker

 The single-action, army-type firearms were manufactured from 1873 to 1902. Colt developed a New Army Model, but the open frame was weak. Soon after, they developed the Model P, entitled "the Peacemaker" (among other things), which had a new solid top frame. The gun was strong and nearly impossible to wreck. It usually was a .45 calibre, and it could be loaded through a hinged gate let into the recoil shield on the right side of the frame behind the cylinder. The spring-loaded ejector rod could be used to punch spent casings (or unfired rounds) backward and out through the gate. The Solid-Frame Army Colt barrel was typically 7 1/2 inches long.

The single-action, commercial Colt Peacemakers were manufactured from 1873 to 1917. They had a combination of blued and case-hardened parts. The grips could be either walnut (standard), gutta-perch, ivory, or mother of pearl. The back sight was a groove milled longitudinally with the frame, and the length of the ejector-case barrels ranged from 4.75 to 16 inches long. Those barrels lacking ejectors ranged from 2 to 7.5 inches. A .44-40 chambering was popular, because the Winchester.44-40 cartridge could fit both the Colt and the Winchester Model 1873 lever-action rifle.

Why a Colt?

Cowboys used the Colt mainly for shooting snakes and turning stampedes. They often "hurrahed the town" at the end of the day (I'm sure Mosby wouldn't put up with that), and it could also serve as a makeshift hammer or pry-bar.

Read this very interesting articles about Texas Rangers and their use of Colts:
Colts of the Texas Rangers -- Colt Army 1860.

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The Remington

Mosby fires an 1875 Remington.

History of the Remington:

The cap-lock Remingtons were made from 1856 to 1865. During the time period of 1861 to 1866, nearly 35% of government acquisitions were Remingtons (39% were Colts). The early 1858 Remingtons were 5-shot, .31 "pocket" revolvers named "Riders." Some had 3 inch barrels, and the cylinders were "mushroom" in shape. In the same year, Remington developed a .44 calibre 6-shot revolver. It was nearly 8 inches long and had a 5-groove barrel.

In 1863, the New Model Army Remington added safety notches between the nipples, and the attachment threads were visible where the barrel abutted to the cylinder face. These revolvers had brass trigger guards and were 13.8 inches long in overall length. The barrel was still 5-grooved, and it was also 8 inches long. It weighed about 46 ounces. The "New Model" or the octagonal barrel Remington was $13.30 versus $17.70 for the 1860 Army Colt. Interestingly, when Union calvary men were given the choice at the end of the Civil War to buy their service revolvers, more bought their Remingtons than their Colts. It was most likely due to the fact that army Remingtons had closed frames as opposed to the open frame of the army Colts during that same period.

The 1875 Remington

 The Model 1875 Military Remingtons (also known as "The Outlaws") were made from 1875 to 1890. These revolvers were chambered for .44 Remington center-fire, the .44-40, or for the .45 Colt. The barrel length was 7 1/2 inches, and it different from the previous models in that it was round. The revolver weighed about 44 ounces. It was blued or nickel-plated and had color case hardening on the hammer and loading gate. The standard grip was an oil-finished walnut, but an ivory or mother-of-pearl grips could be ordered, as well. The Remington is known from the prominent web beneath the barrel. The military Remington had a lanyard ring on the butt. The 1875 Model did not sell well in the West, even though it was comparable. Between 1875 and 1889, only 25,000 guns were sold.

Why a Remington?

The Remington tended to be a sturdy weapon. Check out this excellent website:
The Remington Society of America Home Page

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The Derringer

Call gets ready to shoot his derringer, possibly a Webley "Bulldog" five-shot, .38 or .44. (thanks, Adam!)

History of the Derringer:

The true deringer was a cap-lock design by Henry Deringer made during 1848 to 1870. It was a .41 calibre back action cap lock with a rifled 7-groove barrel of 1.9 inches. The overall length was 4 1/2 inches long.

When other manufacturers decided to produce this small weapon, an extra "r" was added to disguise flagrant thievery. The term "derringer" applies to a small, short-barreled pocket pistol. Depending upon the manufacturer, derringers ranged in size from a large dueling pistol to a tiny concealable gun.

Why a Derringer?

 The derringers were popular for their ease of concealment. They were often used as a hidden backup for gunmen. Many dance hall girls used them for defense in the bordellos. They also sold well among the gamblers.

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Rifles and Shotguns

Mattie loads and aims an 1866 Winchester rifle.

The Rifles

I focus mainly on Winchesters.

History of the Rifle:

Up until the end of the Civil War, many rifles in the West were just remodeled from obsolete muskets. Rifling was added to them, as well as an adoption of the use of self-expanding projectiles. The calibre was gradually diminished.

Soldiers on the plains carried single-shot Springfield carbines, and they fired a .50 calibre projectile. After 1873, the rifles were chambered for a .45-70 round.

Single-shot rifles, like the Sharps rifle, were manufactured for buffalo hunters. The "Big Fifty" could kill bison at ranges of 1,000 yards, especially when used with telescopes. The term "sharpshooter" is derived from the gun and from the excellency of the marksmen that cleared the plains of game.

The Peabody falling block and the Remington rolling block were also single-shot weapons used to clear the plains of big game. Nearly 3.7 million bison were killed alone in 1872 to 1874. The destruction of the buffalo also destroyed the Indians.

Repeating rifles were also developed during this time, and they were far more popular with the cowboys than with big game hunters or the military. The Henry repeating rifle was developed from the Jennings/Volcanic designs in 1860.

The 1866 Winchester

 The lever action Winchester Model 1866 was nothing more than an improved Henry. It had a hinged loading gate on the right side of the frame. This allowed the firer to insert cartridges virtually without taking his eyes off the target. The loading gate also permitted a fixed magazine and a conventional wooden fore end to be used. The Winchester took a 28 grain powder weight. The reduction in the projectile weight from the single-shot rifles managed to increase the projectile's velocity. The Model 1866 had a 24 inch round or octagonal barrel, weighing 9 to 9 1/2 lbs. The firearm could also be designed into an 8 1/4 lb. musket with a 27 inch barrel. When designed as a carbine with a 24-inch round barrel, the rifle weighed 7 1/2 lbs. Rifles and muskets each held a maximum of 17 rounds, but they were usually loaded with fewer rounds to prevent strain on the magazine spring. The carbines held a total of 13 rounds. The Model 1866 was manufactured until 1898.

The 1873 Winchester

The Model 1866 was limited by a weak cartridge, and the Model 1873 Winchester improved upon this. Nearly 720,000 guns were sold before it was discontinued in 1919. It was designed as a rifle, a carbine, or as a military style musket with a bayonet. The Model 1873 was initially chambered for a .44-40, making it very convenient for use with the Colt revolver. Later in 1879, it could also be chambered for a .38-40. The Winchester company was always willing to tailor guns for specific requirements. The firearms could be designed to have half-round/half-octagonal barrels, half-length magazine tubes, special decorations, and more.

Why a rifle?

Why, the range of course!

The Shotguns

Call is ready to kick some a** with his special sawed-off, double-barreled shotgun with a shortened stock to the pistol grip.

History of the Shotgun:

This firearm has been traditionally used in the hunting of fowl. Shots begin to spread at once and begin to lose their momentum. In the latter 1860s, the range and accuracy of the shotgun were much improved by the introduction of the choke, which constricted the shotgun muzzles slightly, in effort to control the pattern of the shot. It is estimated that 1 billion birds were shot in 1878 alone.

Why a shotgun?

These were deadly accurate at short range. The shot pattern also made up for any deficiencies in aiming over the revolver.

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Gun Bloopers

The infamous Russian duke shot. Notice how he handles the rifle.

Apparently, there were some special guns and techniques developed specifically for this show. Look at the expert gun editing in these shots:

• In THE RETURN, Call fires nine shots at the crooked sheriff and his deputies without reloading
• Austin's nine-shooter in BETRAYAL
• Call mows down Bodine's deputies and gets the drop on Bodine in THICKER THAN WATER. He tells Bodine to put down the gun. With some encouragement from Austin, Bodine lowers his gun, as Call turns his back. The next scene is a close-up of Bodine's gun as he raises it and the hammer is cocked!! But as he raises it you hear the cocking sound (and so does Call). He turns around and kills Bodine.
• Same ep, Toby should have noticed that Call shot six shots at him. I guess he was a little flustered. You can imagine Call saying, "In all this confusion, I can't remember whether I shot 6 shots or 5. Do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do ya??"
• The Russian duke shoots at the buffalo right- handed, then left-handed, then right-handed again in TS.
• Luther rides into town on the stage and fires three shots from his double-barreled shotgun. (DAY OF THE DEAD)
• By the end of the showdown scene CATTLE WAR, Mosby and Call have both used up their six shots, so I guess it was time to throw stones at each other. (Which they are mightily proficient at, I must say.)
• Austin is at the trading post in BETRAYAL and pulls a pistol out of one of the men's holsters and says, "Black Powder, you must have fallin on hard times." The only kind of powder available until the late 1890s was black powder. The show probably meant that the old cap and ball revolvers were obviously outclassed by Colts and Remingtons. (Thanks, Brady.)