RIA’s catalog page for this revolver
Joseph Alsop and his sons Charles R and Charles H were investors in the Savage Revolving Firearms Company, but also made an attempt to produce revolvers of their own (similar) design. In 1862 and 1863 they made a total of 800, the first 500 being .36 caliber Navy pattern guns, and the final 300 being .31 caliber pocket pattern guns. The two types do have different sized frames, but not as different as one might expect. Today’s video is primarily to point out the differentiating features between the two – see my previous video on the Alsop Pocket for more on the history and mechanics of the design (the two types are identical mechanically). The most visible difference between the two is on the top of the grip frame, where the Navy has a prominent protrusion and the Pocket has just a slight step.
Fascinating little revolvers. Thanks!
Looks rather a lot like the Savage Navy made single action and more compact?
I’m wondering if there was a way to let the hammer down between the caps on the portion of the rear cylinder between the chambers as a sort of ad-hoc “safety”? Interesting, if perhaps uninspired revolvers.
Personally, I am really interested in similarly stocked Massachusetts Arms .31 caliber revolvers, which attempted to use the tape priming system of Maynard.
I once owned a Savage .36 but I never knew of these Alsops. Thanks Ian.
Puts me in mind of a Smith & Wesson Model 60 with a five inch barrel.