RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 3-Groove, Right-hand twist, 1 turn in 122 cm (1 turn in 48 in)
BULLET DIAMETER – 14.48 mm (0.570 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 34 g (525 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 176 m/s (577 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 526 j (388 ft/lb)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 1.73 kg (3lb 13 oz)
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 1.77 kg (3 lb 14.4 oz)
WEIGHT (LOADED WITH STOCK) – 2.54 kg (5 lb 9.6 oz)
STOCK WEIGHT – 0.77 kg (1 lb 11.2 oz)
SIGHTS – Fixed, open iron, Front sight – blade, Rear sight – 3-leaf folding V-notch, Graduated for 91, 183, 366 m (100, 200, 400 yards), 274 m (300 yard) aperture in 400 yard leaf
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 46 m (50 yards), 137 m (150 yards) with stock
OPERATION – Manual, single action, muzzle-loader
TYPE OF FIRE – Single-shot
RATE OF FIRE – 6 rpm w/tape primer, 4 rpm w/standard percussion primer
FEED DEVICE – Single round, 25-round Maynard Tape Primer or Standard percussion cap
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 0.036 kg (555 grains) per round, 1.94 g (30 grains) 2F Black Powder, 34 g (525 grain) (0.570 in) Minie ball
BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 20 paper rounds (two boxes of 10), 1 – 25 round Maynard primer tape
LOAD WEIGHT – 0.72 kg (1 lb 9.4 oz)
MANUFACTURER – Springfield Armory (primary) Harpers Ferry Arsenal (secondary)
STATUS – Antique
SERVICE – Federal Cavalry and Dragoon units, some Artillery units, also as captured by the Confederate forces
This was one of the last single-shot military handguns adopted by the US Military. In order to perform multiple functions, the pistol was adopted with a removable stock. This allowed the weapon to be used as a handgun by the Cavalry, or as a carbine when used by dismounted Dragoons. It was also the first handgun adopted by US forces that had been designed for use with a Minie ball round. The hollow base of the Minie ball allowed a slightly undersized projectile to be loaded into a dirty (fouled) black powder weapon. The base of the projectile would be expanded by the pressure of the propellant gases when fired and the skirt would engage the rifling of the barrel. The weapon had a captive ramrod, attached by a hinge just underneath the muzzle. The hinged ramrod allowed the weapon to be more easily reloaded from horseback while lessening the possibility of dropping the ramrod. Without a ramrod, a muzzle loading pistol is just a clumsy club. Only 4,021 specimens were produced at Springfield Armory. Very few of the Model 1855 Pistol-Carbines were produced at Harpers Ferry Arsenal. Those weapons that were made at Harpers Ferry did not included the Maynard Tape Primer and were only used with standard percussion caps. Additionally, the Harpers Ferry weapons did not have the rear sight assembly.
