.36 Belt/Navy Colt's Cartridge factory price list from 1853.
.36 Belt/Navy Colt's Cartridge factory price list from 1853.
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All prices below for .36 Cartridges
- Bullet 80 grain round 12pcs : 6¢
- Bullet 160 grain elongated* 12pcs : 12¢
- Bullet 80 grain round 50pcs : 22¢
- Bullet 160 grain elongated 50pcs : 45¢
- Gunpowder 1 pound (7000 grain): 1 $
- Metallic Foil Waterproof Cartridge elongated 1pcs: 4.3¢
- Metallic Foil Waterproof Cartridge elongated 100pcs: 3$ 20¢
- Combustible Envelope Cartridge round 1pcs: 1.5¢
- Combustible Envelope Cartridge elongated 1pcs: 2¢
- Seamless Skin Cartridge round 1pcs: 1.2¢
- Seamless Skin Cartridge elongated 1pcs: 1.7¢
- Seamless Skin Cartridge elongated: 5-6pcs per box: 17¢
- Combustible Envelope Cartridge elongated: 5-6pcs per box: 20¢
- Combustible Envelope Cartridge elongated 1000pcs (50pcs per box): 18$
- Percussion Caps, per 50pcs without tin: 65¢
- Percussion Caps, per 100pcs in tin: 1$ 10¢
- Percussion Caps, per 250pcs in tin: 2$
- Percussion Caps, per 1000pcs (bulk): 4$
*elongated mean ogival in past terminology
Other calibre prices for comparison:
- .265 Calibre - Combustible Envelope Cartridge elongated 1000pcs (50pcs per box): 10$
- .31 Calibre - Combustible Envelope Cartridge elongated 1000pcs (50pcs per box): 15$
- .44 Calibre - Combustible Envelope Cartridge elongated 1000pcs (50pcs per box): 26$
Avarage Wages in 1853
Avarage Wages in 1853
For cost comparison purposes, I post here the general cost of revolvers and accessories, average wages and incomes at the central U.S.A. in 1855.
Revolvers and Accesories Cost
- Colt Pocket/Navy/Army Revolvers 14/18/20$
- Horse 40$
- Horse tack/saddle 40$
- Gun Belt 2-3$
- Shotgun 20-25$
- Rifle/Carbine 30-35$
- Powder flask 1-2$
- Engraving for revolver 4-6$
- Ivory stock for revolver 5-6$
Monthly Outcome
- Accomodation 2$
- Food & Drink 3$
- Alcohol & Tobacco 2$
- Pastime 2$
Monthly Income
- Cowboys / Workers 15-25$
- Train Engine Driver 16-32$
- Steam Boat Captain 140-160$
- Sherif 140-150$*
- Soldier - Captain 100$**
- Soldier - Lieutenant 75$
- Soldier - NCO 50$
- Soldier - Enlisted 30-40$
*The sheriffs or marshals had a basic salary of 14-16$ a month, and the sheriff's office received an average of 300$ a month for arrested, custody, and prosecuted criminals. The sheriff shared this with his deputies and the office staff. For example, a deputy sheriff received 2$ for paperwork, 4$ for the interception, and 5¢ per mile during a pursuit.
**All of the soldiers have additional benefit, such as a free accomodation, daily meal, ammunition, uniforms, chewing tobacco and/or tobacco, etc
Operating cost of a .36 Colt Navy Revolver
Operating cost of a .36 Colt Navy Revolver
The most professional gunman if possible, refilled their percussion revolvers every morning with fresh gun powder and balls. This was important because the black powder contained sulfur, which when exposed to air humidity, is converted into sulfuric acid. This could start to corroded the weapon chambers. So percussion revolvers reloading and proper maintenance of the weapon was essential to its proper use.
This frequent reloading not only 'worn out' the revolvers to some extent, but also had financial implications. Below you can find the one-month expense estimation of a Colt Navy revolver.
Some people used the most traditional way, load their revolver by own, directly from a powder flask. Some of them were used pre-assembled cartridges which can be bought on bulk or per box. These loading preferences generated different costs. I tried to compare these different operating costs as seen at left.
For a month (30 day) I count with 180 cartridge / chamber reloading.
Percussion Revolver Cartridge Factories in the middle of XIX. Century
Percussion Revolver Cartridge Factories in the middle of XIX. Century
The biggest cartridge factories which produce ammunition for Colt percussion .31, .36, .44 Revolvers in the middle of XIX. Century
- A. G Fay, Potter & Cilley Co. Boston, Massachusetts USA (1854-1859)
- A. G Fay, Potter & Tolman Co. Boston, Massachusetts USA (1859-1866)
- Robert Chadwick Hartford, Connecticut USA (1855-1859)
- Sam Colt’s Cartridge Work Hartford, Connecticut USA (1843-1856)
- Colt’s Cartridge Works Hartford, Connecticut USA (1857-1869)
- Laboratory of Confederate States Army Richmond, Virginia USA (1861-1865)
- D.C. Sage Middletown, Connecticut USA (1852-1867)
- Hazard Powder Co. Hazardville, Connecticut USA (1852-1866)
- Henry W. Mason Hook & Eye Factory South Coventry, Connecticut USA (1858-1869)
- Johnson & Dow New York, New York USA (1860-1863)
- Leet & Hall Springfield, Massachusetts USA (1852-1866)
- Merwin & Bray New York, New USA (1874-1880)
- The Savage Revolving Fire Arms Co. Middletown, Connecticut USA (1856-69)
- James H. Merrill Baltimore, Maryland USA (1856-63)
Percussion Cap Size Comparison
Percussion Cap Size Comparison
Since the beginning every manufacturer used their own cap size. Since Eley caps was one of the highest numbers produced, we often use their numbering nowadays. This table right shown the most common size chart.
Colt's revolvers mostly used .158-.160" / 10-11 /51-54 size caps.
The Biggest Percussion Cap Manufacturers between 1837-1937
The Biggest Percussion Cap Manufacturers between 1837-1937
Company | Patent | Factory Location | Country | Manufacturing year
- American Brass Co. | Walter Hick | Waterbury Connecticut | USA | 1870-1898
- American Flask & Cap Co. | Walter Hick | New York | USA | 1857-1869
- California Cap Co. | F.F Fletter | San Francisco | USA | 1850-1883
- Crittenden & Tibbals Mfg. Co. | Crittenden | South Coventry, Connecticut | USA | 1849-1920
- E & A Ludlow | A Ludlow | Birmingham | England | 1858-1870
- Eley Brothers Co. | Eley | London | England | 1850-1937
- Eley Co. | Eley | London | England | 1837-1850
- F. Joyce & Co. | Frederick Joyce | London | England | 1852-1888
- Firma Serafin Keller / K.k. ärarische Schießwollanstalt | Serafin Keller | Hirtenberg | Austria | 1860-1887
- G. Kynoch & Co. | George Kynoch | Birmingham | England | 1863-1897
- Gaupillat et Delion S. A. | Marcel Gaupillat | Seine-et-Oise | France | 1870-1884
- Gaupillat S. A. | Marcel Gaupillat | Bas-Meudon | France | 1835-1839 1844-1870
- Gévelot et Gaupillat S. A. | Jules Gévelot, Marcel Gaupillat | Paris | France | 1887-1896
- Gévelot S. A. | Jules Gévelot | Issy-les-Moulineaux | France | 1843-1884
- H. Utendoerffer A. G. | Heinrich Utendoerffer | Nürnberg | Germany | 1856-1889
- Hirtenberger Patronen-, Zündhütchen- und Metallwaarenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft | Anton Keller, Ludwig Mandl | Hirtenberg | Austria | 1897-1914
- Hirtenberger Patronen-, Zündhütchen- und Metallwaarenfabrik Keller & Compagnie | Anton Keller, Ludwig Mandl | Hirtenberg | Austria | 1887-1896
- J. Goldmark & T. Wehle | Joseph Goldmark | New York | USA | 1856-1881
- León Beaux et Cia. | León Beaux | Milano | Italy | 1884-1906
- León Beaux srl. | León Beaux | Milano | Italy | 1906-1914
- Moscow Shot Casting and Cartridge Factory | Nikolay Fetter, Evgeny Ginkel | Moszkva | Russia | 1904-1918
- N. Fetter & E. Ginkel Co. | Nikolay Fetter, Evgeny Ginkel | Moszkva | Russia | 1894-1904
- Pursall and Phillips Co. | William Pursall | Birmingham | England | 1856-1859
- R. Walker | Richard Walker | Birmingham | England | 1848-1911
- Remington Co. | UMC | Bridgeport, Connecticut | USA | 1902-1911
- Remington UMC Co. | UMC | Bridgeport, Connecticut | USA | 1911-1929
- Rheinisch-Westfälischen Sprengstoff A.G. | Heinrich Utendoerffer | Nürnberg | Germany | 1889-
- Sellier & Belliot | Louis Sellier | Vlašim (Praga) | Czech | 1830-1895
- Société Française de Munitions | Jules Gévelot, Marcel Gaupillat | Paris | France | 1885-1905
- Starkey Thos. & Co. | Thomas Starkey | Birmingham | England | 1841-1867
- The Union Metallic Cartridges Co. | UMC, Walter Hick | Bridgeport, Connecticut | USA | 1866-1902
- Theodore Wehle | Joseph Goldmark. Theodore Wehle | New York | USA | 1881-1894
- Walter Hick Cap Manufactury | Walter Hick | New York | USA | 1854-1856
- Waterbury Brass Co. | Walter Hick | Waterbury Connecticut | USA | 1869-1870
- Westley Richards & Co | Westley W. Richard | Birmingham | England | 1855-1871
- William Pursall & Co. | William Pursall | Birmingham Witton | England | 1861-1862
- Winchester Repeating Arms Co. | Walter Hick, Joseph Goldmark | New Heaven, Connecticut | USA | 1898-1910
The Quantity of Powder Used for Pocket, Navy and Army size pistols
The Quantity of Powder Used for Pocket, Navy and Army size pistols
For the regular size percussion Colt revolvers in the mid of 1800s typically used less (15-18 grains) powder then nowadays (22-25 grains). The modern Colt replicas are made from more advanced materials, so they can handle a bigger powder load. By fact at the early times, less powder caused less stress on the weapon, especially on the copper frame version guns. Also, smaller loads provide less recoil and produce better accuracy at a closer distance were these weapons being used. At this time a smaller amount of gunpowder was enough for the desired effectiveness.
Blackpowder at this time was measured in avoirdupois dram (drachm) by weight and not by volume. The avoirdupois dram is the unit of weight was: 1 pound = 16 ounce = 256 dram = 7000 grain. 1 dram (drachm) weight gun-powder load is equal to 27 11/32 grain weight gun powder in current metric unit. Gunpowder barrels measured in keg: 1 keg = 20 pound.
Typical loads for the revolvers was in in this unit:
- Pocket: 3/8, 1/2, 5/8 drachm
- Navy / Belt: 5/8, 6/8, 7/8 drachm
- Army / Cavalry / Holster: 1 1/4, 1 3/8, 1 1/2 drachm
Typical load for same revolvers was in current metric unit (grain):
- Pocket: 10, 14, 17 grain
- Navy / Belt: 17, 20, 24 grain
- Army / Cavalry / Holster: 34, 38, 41 grain
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