|
Photographs and text copyright (c) 2004, Theodore Roosevelt Association.
Photos may be used for school reportswith proper referencing; however,
other publication or use in any medium including online is prohibited
without written consent of the
Theodore Roosevelt Association.
A link to the Theodore Roosevelt Association web site is required for
all electronic usage.
|
Rough Rider Model
1873 .45 Colt Revolver – Identified to Pvt. Edwin Miller
|
This Colt
.45 caliber Peacemaker Revolver was issued to Private Edwin
Miller who enlisted in the Rough Riders on May 19th, 1898 in
San Antonio, Texas. He served throughout the war and was mustered
out of service with the regiment in mid-September at Camp Wikoff.
Records show that today there are only 8 surviving Rough Rider
Colt pistols that have been authentically identified.
The serial
number of this revolver is 113456. Only troops "I"
and "G" recorded the serial numbers of their
|
View
1
Rough Rider Model 1873 .45 Colt Revolver – Identified
to Pvt. Edwin Miller
Private Collection
|
| firearms
and those records list this pistol having been issued to Pvt.
Miller. The revolver is also listed in the National Archives under
the Rough Riders in Record Group 94, Entry 116, Regimental Record
Books, Spanish-American War, 1st USV Cavalry. In a letter dated
May 14, 1997, Kathleen J. Hoyt, the Colt company historian wrote
that according to the Colt records this revolver was originally
shipped to the U.S. Government on December 17, 1884 and later
returned to the Colt factory for refurbishing where worn |
View
2
Rough Rider Model 1873 .45 Colt Revolver – Identified to
Pvt. Edwin Miller
Private Collection
|
|
parts were
replaced, the barrel was shortened to 5 ½ inches, and
the exterior was refinished. The revolver was then subsequently
reshipped to the U.S. Government on January 31, 1896 where it
eventually wound up with the Rough Riders and ultimately to
Pvt. Miller.
The Model
1873 Colt Single Action Revolver, better known as the Peacemaker,
may be America's most famous gun. In Hollywood it became the
gun of the "take down." From John Wayne, to Roy Rogers,
to Marty McFly in "Back To The Future III," the Colt
45 was the hero's choice.
|
View
3
Rough Rider Model 1873 .45 Colt Revolver – Identified to
Pvt. Edwin Miller
Private Collection
|
It's a single
action revolver meaning you have to pull back the hammer after each
firing. These guns were originally issued with a 7½-inch barrel
, but many were modified in the 1890s with a shortened 5½-inch
barrell for easier use by the Light Artillery Regiments. Today its
nicknamed the, "Artillery Model Colt.”
Another interest
aspect of this particular Colt is that one of the nation’s leading
Colt appraisers, John A. Kopec of Whitmore, California examined the
gun and believes it may be the only surviving Colt Artillery Revolver,
of this model, still in it's original condition after been refurbhished.
.
|
