I've been doing some research into antique revolvers. I've never owned nor carried one, nor even fired one before. I started out thinking that it wouldn't be easy to do; and nothing has convinced me otherwise yet.
So far, I figure one would look for a cap & ball revolver with the following characteristics:
- a model well-known for its reliability
- a ramming lever, to allow faster loading
- a removable cylinder (to allow faster unloading and reloading)
Actually, not just one, but carrying two would be preferred due to the unreliable nature of these firearms and their long reload time, compared to modern cartridge firing models.
From what I can tell, Colt did not manufacture a cap & ball revolver with an easily detachable cylinder; Remington did. Or did Colt have one, too?
How long can you expect a load to last before you have to reload the cylinders with dry powder? I guess it varies depending on your environment. How about in a modern urban/suburban environment in this area?
On the History Channel, I remember seeing an account that Wild Bill Hickok had a daily routine of cleaning and loading his two Navy Revolvers to ensure their reliability. The only way I can figure you unload it is by firing it. Is that correct? I'm sure there are ways to extract the loaded ball and powder, but that doesn't seem very safe.
Also, are there any statistics on accidental discharges/mechanical failures for these firearms?