The "McCulloch" Colt Replica

In early 1861, after Texas had seceded from the Union and federal troops were no longer guarding the Lone Star State, the citizens realized that they would have to defend themselves against marauding Indians along their vast frontier. Veteran Indian fighter and Texas Ranger Ben McCulloch went directly to his longtime personal friend Samuel Colt to order their new 1860 "Cavalry" revolvers with the full-fluted cylinders, to arm his Texas Rangers.

An order for 2,000 guns was placed with Colt and although Texas was officially a Confederate State, the company accepted the order, knowing that delivery would be difficult. Eventually two shipments totaling 1,000 revolvers, with full-fluted cylinders, were able to run past the Union blockade and delivered the Colt’s to New Orleans where they were loaded on wagons and freighted to Texas. The guns saw action with the Texas Rangers and McCulloch’s troops at the set of the Civil War.

This original "McCulloch" Colt is from the Confederate and Civil War estate collection of Fred Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson did not note in his papers where he uncovered this gun, but a Colt Factory Letter (below) indeed lists it shipped to New Orleans April 9, 1861 to Kittredge. The cylinder is mis-matched from SN 2537, but no doubt a factory letter would most likely identify it as a Ben McCulloch gun also. PROVENANCE: The Confederate and Civil War estate collection of Fred Donaldson. 

When it comes to the 1860 Colt Army revolver with the full fluted cylinder, many associate the "McCulloch Colt" with that full fluted cylinder. What is often forgotten about is that it was Gen. Wade Hampton of South Carolina that made the suggestion to Colt for the full fluted cylinder.

The full fluted cylinder suggested by Wade Hampton was produced first, before the McCulloch Colt revolvers were produced. The Colt 1860 Army revolver initially began production with a fully fluted cylinder design. This design as suggested by Wade Hampton, who later became a Confederate general, was an early variation, with approximately the first 4,000 to 6,500 revolvers featuring this design.

The fluted cylinder was a weight-saving attempt, but was quickly abandoned due to several factors. The weight reduction was only moderate and the additional manufacturing expense was not justified, especially once wartime production began. And the main concern was about the strength of the thinned cylinder, with some reports of explosions of those first produced.

After the initial production run with the full fluted cylinders, Colt switched to the more common non-fluted or "rebated" cylinders depicting the1843 Battle of Campeche. It's probably worth noting that while the fluted cylinder variation was short-lived, it is now highly sought after by collectors due to its rarity. There were only only about 4,000 to 6,500 of the full fluted cylinder models manufactured in the early 1860s.

Only one previous importer of the full fluted cylinder recognized the fact that it was Gen. Wade Hampton who came up with the idea of the full flutes. That importer was Centennial Arms, the originator of the well known Centennial "1960" (1860) New Model Army revolver built by F.A.U.L. of Belgium.

Having lived in Hampton, SC for 14 years, I became well acquainted with Gen. Wade Hampton and his attempt to defend Columbia, SC during Sherman's March through the South. Our high school was named after the General and we were the Wade Hampton High School Red Devils! So I have a soft spot in my heart for the full fluted "Wade Hampton" 1860 Colt Army revolver!