Remington's Revolving Rifle: Not Expensive, but not Successful

Published on October 21, 2021
Duration: 9:59

The Remington Revolving Rifle, introduced in 1865, leveraged existing revolver tooling to create a firearm targeting hunters. While innovative in its use of repurposed parts and later cartridge conversion, it ultimately failed commercially. Its design suffered from issues like cylinder gap flash and was overshadowed by superior lever-action rifles like the Winchester.

Quick Summary

The Remington Revolving Rifle, introduced in 1865, leveraged existing revolver tooling for cost savings and targeted hunters. By 1872, it offered cartridge conversions to .38 and .46 rimfire. However, it failed commercially due to issues like cylinder gap flash and competition from superior Winchester lever-action rifles.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Remington vs. Colt
  2. 01:08Design: Repurposed Tooling
  3. 02:36Cartridge Conversion Explained
  4. 03:40Mechanical Deep Dive: Cylinder Reloading
  5. 05:33Production Numbers & Variations
  6. 07:52Market Failure & Obsolescence

Frequently Asked Questions

What made the Remington Revolving Rifle different from Colt's approach?

While Colt pursued military contracts in the 1850s, Remington entered the revolving rifle market in 1865, repurposing existing revolver tooling and targeting hunters rather than military buyers.

How did Remington convert their revolving rifles to use cartridges?

Following the expiration of the Smith & Wesson patent, Remington offered conversions where .36 percussion cylinders became .38 rimfire, and .44 percussion cylinders became .46 rimfire, using a two-part cylinder system.

Why was the Remington Revolving Rifle not commercially successful?

The rifle suffered from inherent issues like cylinder gap flash and was quickly made obsolete by the superior performance and popularity of Winchester's lever-action rifles, leading to low sales and price drops.

What were the production numbers for the Remington Revolving Rifle?

Approximately 800 Remington Revolving Rifles were produced over a 13-year period. About half of the known examples are factory rimfire conversions.

Related News

All News →

More Reviews Videos You Might Like

More from Forgotten Weapons

View all →