Engineering:Starr revolver
| Starr DA (Starr double-action)[1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Revolver |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Wars | American Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Ebanezer (Eban) Townsend Starr (Yonkers, New York)[2] |
| Designed | Probably[2] 15 January 1856[2] |
| Manufacturer | Starr Arms Company of Binghamton and Yonkers, New York[3] |
| Produced | Late 1850s to 1860s[3] |
| No. built | 23,000[3] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2 lb 14 oz (1.3 kg) [1858 Army DA][4] |
| Length | 12 5⁄8 in (32 cm) [1858 Army DA][4] |
| Cartridge | Ball, percussion cap #11[3] |
| Calibre | .44 [0.451 in (11.5 mm)],.[1] 36 (Navy version[2]) |
| Action | Double-action |
| Muzzle velocity | 725 ft/s (221 m/s)[1] |
| Feed system | 6 round cylinder[2] |
A Starr revolver (Starr DA) is a double-action revolver which was used in the western theater of the American Civil War until the United States Army Ordnance Department persuaded the Starr Arms Co. to create a single-action variant after discontinuation of the Colt. The company eventually complied, and the Union acquired 25,000 of the single-action revolvers for $12 each (equivalent to $306 in 2024). However, the price paid by the government for the DA army revolver was $25.[4] The State of Ohio purchased 500 of the .36 Caliber Navy version for $20 each.[5]
Power and charge
The Starr DA .44 cylinder holds in each chamber 33 grains (2.1 g) of powder, the bullet weighs 138 grains (8.9 g).[1]
Three variations
Starr received patent number 30843 on December 4, 1860, for the DA revolver.[6]
Starr patent:
Generally there are three models of Starr revolvers:[2]
1858 Double Action .36 Caliber Percussion Navy Revolver (produced 1859–1860) [3000 produced][5]
1858 Double Action .44 Caliber Percussion Army Revolver (produced 1862–1863) [~23000 produced][7]
1863 Single Action .44 Caliber Percussion Army Revolver (produced 1863–1864) [23000 produced][7]
In total, 47,454 Starr revolvers were manufactured making it the third most issued of civil war era revolvers (6,352 Starr DA Navy and Army revolvers were purchased on the open market).[7]
Other double-action percussion revolvers
Pietta replica
For a time, the Pietta company manufactured a modern-day replica of the Starr double-action and single-action models.
Cultural reference
The Starr DA is featured in the 1992 film Unforgiven, when William Munny (Clint Eastwood) takes it from its case to determine whether he has lost his former shooting ability[8]. The self-cocking trigger can be seen in this film. In the 1994 film Wyatt Earp young Wyatt Earp (Kevin Costner) carries this gun[9].
This gun is shown in its case in the 1982 film First Blood.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Starr Revolvers and Carbines". Hackman-adams.com. http://www.hackman-adams.com/guns/Starr.htm. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Marc Wade. "Starr Revolver Week 1". Armscollectors.com. http://armscollectors.com/mgs/starr_revolver_week_1.htm. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Dixie Gun Works muzzleloading, blackpowder and rare antique gun supplies". Dixiegunworks.com. http://www.dixiegunworks.com/product_info.php?products_id=3539. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Marc Wade. "Starr Revolver Week 2". Armscollectors.com. http://armscollectors.com/mgs/starr_revolvers_week_2.htm. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Civil War Sidearms". Rebelstatescurrency.com. http://www.rebelstatescurrency.com/sidearms.html. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
- ↑ "Patent Images". Patimg1.uspto.gov. http://patimg1.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=00030843&homeurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect1%3DPTO2%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526u%3D%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-adv.htm%2526r%3D1%2526p%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPALL%2526S1%3D0030843.PN.%2526OS%3Dpn%2F30843%2526RS%3DPN%2F30843&PageNum=&Rtype=&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Marc Wade. "Starr Revolver Week 3". Armscollectors.com. http://armscollectors.com/mgs/starr_revolvers_week_3.htm. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
- ↑ "Unforgiven (1992) - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games". https://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Unforgiven_(1992)#Starr_Army_Revolver.
- ↑ "Wyatt Earp - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games". https://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Wyatt_Earp#Starr_1858_Army.
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