We've had some debate here about the historical use of spare cylinders to load Colt / Remington revolvers.
I've read couple mentions recently of Texas Rangers carrying spare cylinders for their Paterson Colts.
http://www.texasescapes.com/JefferyRobenalt/Battle-of-Walkers-Creek-and-Colt-Paterson-Revolver.htm
"Sam Colt produced several models of the Paterson, but model No. 5 was a five-shot .36 caliber percussion revolver with a nine inch barrel and a folding trigger that only emerged when the hammer was cocked; a feature common to all Paterson Colts. The revolver was a bit fragile and the barrel had to be removed to switch cylinders, but the weapon came with an extra cylinder or two, giving the user from ten to fifteen shots before reloading was necessary.Colt's model No. 5 was referred to as the "Texas" Paterson because of its use by the Texas Rangers at Walker's Creek. How the Rangers got their hands on the weapon is a story unto itself."
"During the running, three-mile, hour-long Comanche retreat, Yellow Wolf rallied his warriors for three separate counterattacks with the Rangers fighting in relays — one group quickly switching the cylinders of their Colts while the other engaged the Comanches. Just as Yellow Wolf was haranguing his warriors into making one more attack, Ranger Ad Gillespie shot him in the head at thirty yards. Now thoroughly demoralized, Comanches fled the field."
Below is a screen print from the Book "Savage Frontier" that mentions changing cylinders (on Colt Paterson revolvers) during the Battle at Walker's Creek:
And a boxed original Paterson with spare matching cylinder:
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...ver-sells-for-record-977500-price-at-auction/
So here we have evidence of Texas Rangers using spare cylinders to reload their Colt revolvers pre-Civil War. Most of these same people ended up in the Civil War. Seems odd that they didn't bring that knowledge with them.
I've read couple mentions recently of Texas Rangers carrying spare cylinders for their Paterson Colts.
http://www.texasescapes.com/JefferyRobenalt/Battle-of-Walkers-Creek-and-Colt-Paterson-Revolver.htm
"Sam Colt produced several models of the Paterson, but model No. 5 was a five-shot .36 caliber percussion revolver with a nine inch barrel and a folding trigger that only emerged when the hammer was cocked; a feature common to all Paterson Colts. The revolver was a bit fragile and the barrel had to be removed to switch cylinders, but the weapon came with an extra cylinder or two, giving the user from ten to fifteen shots before reloading was necessary.Colt's model No. 5 was referred to as the "Texas" Paterson because of its use by the Texas Rangers at Walker's Creek. How the Rangers got their hands on the weapon is a story unto itself."
"During the running, three-mile, hour-long Comanche retreat, Yellow Wolf rallied his warriors for three separate counterattacks with the Rangers fighting in relays — one group quickly switching the cylinders of their Colts while the other engaged the Comanches. Just as Yellow Wolf was haranguing his warriors into making one more attack, Ranger Ad Gillespie shot him in the head at thirty yards. Now thoroughly demoralized, Comanches fled the field."
Below is a screen print from the Book "Savage Frontier" that mentions changing cylinders (on Colt Paterson revolvers) during the Battle at Walker's Creek:
And a boxed original Paterson with spare matching cylinder:
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...ver-sells-for-record-977500-price-at-auction/
So here we have evidence of Texas Rangers using spare cylinders to reload their Colt revolvers pre-Civil War. Most of these same people ended up in the Civil War. Seems odd that they didn't bring that knowledge with them.