Savage Navy Revolver: Almost Double Action!

/ forgottenweapons
The Savage is one of the many revolvers that saw purchase and martial use during the US Civil War - and in this case, martial use on both sides. About 13,000 Savages were bought by the Union army and navy, and another 11,000 were sold commercially. Many of those commercially-sold guns were later smuggled through the lines and used by Confederate troops.
Ultimately production of the Savage ended after 1863, because the Union opted to standardize on .44 caliber instead of the .36 caliber that Savage was tooled up to produce. The retooling costs were too high for the company to change over, so they dropped the gun from production (it was already a tough sell to the military, at 35%-50% more expensive than competing Colt and Remington revolvers).
Mechanically, the Savage has several forward-looking features - most notably its quasi-double-action system. It has a traditional trigger, and also a ring trigger just below. The ring trigger is actually a cocking lever, which both cocks the hammer and rotates the cylinder. The top trigger is then used to fire. This allows easy rapid fire without changing one's grip to cock the action, although it requires some practice to operate smoothly and feels quite odd to someone not used to working two separate "triggers" in sequence.

[@catfish552]

"Single or double action revolver for you, sir?" "Lever action toggle lock, please."

[@eggisfun4217]

lol

[@nicmerrell1640]

Honestly my second favourite Civil War revolver behind the LeMat

[@ThatImmo]

Love how this video contains the best name for a punk rock band ever: "Savage Nipple Placement"

[@AnimeSunglasses]

This is now, hands down, my favorite percussion gun ever.

[@stefanmolnapor910]

More so than the " Figure 8 Savage/North"?

[@sarjim4381]

Ah, back in the days when KZbin allowed we peasants to go directly to a gun auction website. Thank goodness the Trust and Safety Team prevents such shenanigans today.

[@andrewgates8158]

Truthspeak

[@ryanbarker5217]

it's for your own safety, comrade.

[@treatb09]

1.5 action

[@bigtasty42069]

I'm deadddd

[@Alexandre.Savine]

Sort of 3-stroke engine, huh? ;)

[@m.kriddick2731]

The seal also works as a cylinder lock, making sure the cylinder is locked up correctly before firing.

[@codemiesterbeats]

I am amazed by older mechanical things, people use 3d renderings etc... these days but they basically had to make the dang thing and see if it works lol now I find myself wanting to learn about old school machining techniques.

[@DAKOTA56777]

Most modern small workshop/hobby machine tools are still manually operated like vintage tools were, just with electric motors instead of belt drive from a line shaft. There are plenty of videos on youtube to teach machining with manual lathes and mills. Harder to find are more specialized tools like shapers though.

[@envrnmntlsm]

@@DAKOTA56777 i love old power hammers theyre great

[@1fanger]

I`m floored at the technical ingenuity of some of the older guns. Great! Thanks

[@christianwouters6764]

Amazing how they could engineer this by the light of an oil lamp, without computers, without electricity. That mechanism is so clever. Superior in all ways to the Colt design.

[@tinkeralexander5639]

@@christianwouters6764 No distractions. Nothing better to do than design. I moved off grid for a while, its amazing what your mind will wander to with none of the day to day distractions.

[@brandon1023]

Engineers gonna engineer

[@Pattamatt1998]

Really damn cool revolver. I've always thought firearms of the mid- to late-1800s have always been pretty interesting because of all the quirky innovations.

[@jebiren]

I wish Uberti would make a reproduction of the Savage Navy.

[@monkeymonk2278]

I agree; that would be pretty awesome.

[@richardtravalini5079]

It would be very expensive and might not sell many.

[@linksZsabre18]

@@richardtravalini5079 how do you think the uberti reproduction lemat revolving carbine was like in terms of pricing? uberti is known to produce expensive 1800s firearms to see if they would sell their all limited runs of them anyways.

[@devinrobinson1270]

Honestly it’d probably be more expensive than an original

[@richardtravalini5079]

@@linksZsabre18 When I was a gun dealer back in 1976-1997, Uberti guns were less than the originals in excellent condition. Besides, they could handle smokeless powder where the originals could not. Well worth it even if it were more expensive as a shooter.

[@warhound45]

What an absolutely gorgeous bit of kit! Was super interesting getting to see the inner workings as they functioned. Thanks for the excellent content as always.

[@lordofudead]

I really love it when the guns have visible inner workings that get to be shown off, absolutely gorgeous mechanical movement.

[@warhound45]

I know right? So awesome. I really dig the aesthetics of old weapons like this, as well. They have so much character in their silhouettes alone.

[@vguyver2]

I love it. Such a clever gun design. It's not as revelation today, but I kinda want to see a modern revolver with some of the mechanics. Could make for a very good internal feed system.

[@johnsilver198]

I liked these zoom in views. You should use it more often.

[@keithallardice6139]

Incredibly ingenious mechanism .. and I love the fact that this handgun has its own knucklebow! If you run out of bullets you have a combination pistol/hatchet/knuckleduster :-)

[@dalemoss4684]

This revolver featured in Bernard Cornwell's civil war novel, Rebel. The main character Starbuck is issued one when he joins the confederate army

[@opticalecho119]

Man, I wish I could spend $20 on a gun

[@jason60chev]

$20 was close to a good months wages in 1860! Army Privates made $13/month.

[@MrLotrecht]

buy a waterpistol so i did-in summertime you can hunt some chicks with it ;-)

[@connormclernon26]

Connor Reynolds $20 in 1861 is $583.54 today.

[@Bialy_1]

@Samuel Prince Using "faux intellectual" in this conversation kinda makes you one. :P And the whole "joke" here is so small that you can't blame people for not seeing it. Not to mention that most people have no idea how much $20 back then was worthed so giving that information under this video and this comment is not silly if you actualy want to learn something. But for so many people learning is a pain and they just run awey from it... You both should move to Africa plenty of people there that have similar mindset like you two.

[@pickatenney8420]

No kidding

[@bitfreakazoid]

That is a really cool revolver. Looks like if they had put a little thought into it they could of turned it into a semi-auto revolver.

[@sillygoose210_6]

Double action*

[@AnimeSunglasses]

Spottler? Double-S Bottler? Anyone wanna drink?

[@rogerwennstrom6677]

Neat, I just had the exact same idea! Would certainly be ahead of its time.

[@williamcbutton8514]

Very beautiful. I always look forward to your videos. You have my dream job. To preserve the history of these weapons and share the knowledge is so great.

[@Jesses001]

A very nice system. I am surprised more revolvers did not have that first safety notch. Seems simple and effective.

[@JerryEricsson]

Many of the European revolvers of the time did have a rebound hammer, it seems it just never really caught on here in the US, I think we were more interested in MORE POWER then MORE safety.

[@gavindavies793]

Very interesting revolver. The basic design seems well suited to upscaling into a large calibre revolving rifle, as the frame looks strong, the toggle link system helps with gas control and reduces chain fire, and the cocking lever would help with fast follow-up shot. I also wonder how it would have faired with a large knurled thumb screw for retaining the ram-rod assembly, plus having said assy captive in a sliding slot or similar, and making the cylinder spring captive on the shaft. The would allow the shooter to quickly release the cylinder without dropping any parts, and a new pre-loaded cylinder could be fitted. Possibly pre-capped in a special thick leather case for combat readiness, or un-capped for more general use (hunting?). A larger bore revolving rifle with spare chambers would also have worked well as a revolving shotgun too.So much potential!Great video as always :)

[@JerryEricsson]

When I was a kid I wanted one of those revolving carbines so bad my teeth hurt (that no longer happens, all my damn teeth fell out when I had the cancer.) They had them in the Sears Christmas Catalog but they cost more then the cap gun pistols and my folks never had the extra cash for such a luxury toy. Now I don't think I would take one, unless of course, someone tried to give it to me for under a grand.

[@Tallus_ap_Mordren]

I had a thought: would the camming toggle system for the cylinder have made a revolver carbine version of this practical? The blast from the cylinder gap was one of the primary complaints of the Colt revolver carbines, IIRC.

[@colnagocowboy]

my grandfather was a fine southern gentleman and a patriot. thus he became a brigadier general, in the union army. but ive only found one video on the wespon he carried durring the war (and that in japanese). he used a Smith & Wesson no.2. i hope you can cover it one day.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

It must've been difficult for one to go against home and community. Though your grandfather found himself on the right side of history, in the end.

[@bavarianpotato]

Your grandfather? I doubt that. Even if I'm extremely generous and say you're 60 years old (born in 1959) and your father was 60 when you were born ( i.e. he was born in 1899 ), your grandfather was also 60 when his son was born, your grandfather was born in 1839. By the end of the civil war in 1865 he was 26. Brigadier general at 26? Really?

[@KickyFut]

I dunno about proving his story, but maybe he missed a 'great' in his description... Five seconds with Wikipedia shows an "Ellis Spear" who was brigadier general at 32. Prolly not him, but anything can be possible. No need to immediately question people's history, unless there's some sort of harm...

[@slaughterhound8793]

Really ingenious revolver, I like the way it works. You hardly ever see these even in museums anymore.

[@later2672]

Awesome video as always. I enjoy every one that you have made. Keep on showing us (who would never see 90% of these Fire Arms) these unique and Forgotten Weapons. Thanks from Ca.

[@johnhmstr]

Wow! that checks all my boxes for what catches my eye. Innovative mechanics, historical significance and just all around nifty piece. Thanks Ian!

[@petervollhiem3109]

Terrific video Ian. I've always wanted to learn more about this revolver. As well engineered as this is to overcome the soot and flash/chain fire issues of black powder - it really makes me appreciate what we enjoy today with fixed cartridge ammunition and smokeless propellents. Thank you again Ian - your videos are most educational.

[@richardbottom9843]

I really like this one. Nothing will beat a 1861 navy colt on *MY* list, but this one is really close to it

[@hermatred572]

Thanks for linking this in the last video

[@svtirefire]

I wasn't expecting you to take this one apart. Sweeeeeet!

[@TheKaareaksel]

capandball has a great youtube video of shooting this beautiful gun

[@timmy3822]

The mechanism in that is incredible to watch. Such ingenuity for the time.

[@immex5694]

i am working on a functional airsoft/gun replica of this right now, my goal is to make novelty arms like this that are completely inaccessible to most people have accessible and fireable replicas for an extremely cheap cost. thank you! the video really helped me understand the internals a lot better!

[@Oblithian]

That comes apart very nicely.

[@thelaughinghyenas7962]

Ian, I love these. All the weird and wonderful! All the historical guns that lead to the gun that lead to the .... Please keep them up. I'm always sad when the auction house examples end.

[@ncktbs]

the steam punk potential of that is off the charts such a neat action

[@Mbartel500]

Very clever internal design. The designers brought their A game on this one.

[@kimregur2655]

We have one from Georgia farm very unique, my husband and his dad collected gun went to alot gun shows, his father got this gun when he was 10 yrs old or younger .137yrs Old

[@wizardofahhhs759]

Never knew Savage has been around so long. Might have to acquire one just for the history of the company. My dad swore by the Savage shotguns of the mid '50s.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Different Savage.

[@lwfeagan]

That is some very slick engineering. Thanks for the disassembly and thorough explanation.

[@KincadeCeltoSlav]

AWESOME! Never seen that one afor! Thanks Gunguru Ian!

[@vrisbrianm4720]

The capandball channel was shooting an original Savage Navy as well

[@lv2943]

A gun I've wanted since I was a kid. Nice to see these are fairly reasonably priced, at least their estimate.

[@maurocastagnetti3139]

The Savage was a very strange and particular, CW revolver. Very useful video!

[@homosidorovich4753]

That action looks so smooth.

[@Hawk1966]

This is Savage. The mechanics of this pistol are amazingly advanced.

[@stewknoles4790]

Now that is a black powder pistol I would love to own. That is a very much ahead of its time revolver. It is cool. I could not imagine Pietta nor Uberti trying to manufacture a piece like this. It would cost a fortune for just a Repro. Impressive. Thank you Ian.

[@MrRoboskippy]

This is by far the coolest revolver I have ever seen.

[@jessgatt5441]

My uncle Carroll owned one, I thought that thing was absolutely wonderful.

[@jimkey920]

The ver first time I was made aware of this pistol. They had a great design!

[@dbaider9467]

Absolutely completely brilliant.

[@thephantom496]

Very nice and easy way of de-and reassembly for cleaning.👍🏻

[@derekstocker6661]

What a wonderfully innovative gun and superbly engineered mechanism, thank you for a great video (as usual) and great demo of how very clever these gun making inventors were, even at that time.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian

[@thelonerider5644]

Yep that gun is pretty savage looking... Seriously though...weird how the cylinder/barrel are in line with the grip...

[@reecethurman4714]

I really really like this gun. Seems like a cool design

[@pietzeekoe]

Great that your adding metric units

[@Mattis_FH]

Wow, that was one sexy gun. I think this climbed into my top 3.

[@therugburnz]

That is a great looking revolver to me. The designers of the firearm and manufacturing processes did a nice job. If they could have made it for a only three fewer dollars there would be hundreds more.

[@troy9477]

Interesting. Heard of these before. I wonder how feasible a modern repro would be. How about an internal hammer and .38 Special? That would be a lot of fun. The lockwork parts are large and simple. Modern heat treated steels would give tight tolerances and great durability. Should be possible to lighten it a bit too, even an alloy frame if need be. 2.5 lbs would be about right. Great video as always. Thank you

[@jamesellsworth9673]

I'm thinking the equivalent of 'Restomod' in classic cars. What a lovely firearm this would be...and convenient to use...in a modern cartridge version.

[@Soridan]

Dang, this is one gorgeous looking gun.

[@georgeparkins777]

It's funny how this is only a little less complicated than, say, a delayed blowback semiauto. In fact, think of it like this: The Pedersen rifle used a toggle mechanism for delayed blowback. Picture a cartridge-based, smokeless version of this gun, without, presumably, the cocking lever, with the toggle designed to be slightly broken as in a Pedersen, such that it will delay blowback and then open up. Thus it would advance the cylinder and cock the hammer after every shot. And suddenly you have a single-action-only semi-automatic revolver. Because it doesn't have to eject cartridges, it doesn't have to have any more travel than the existing Savage. I'm sure no one would ever feel the need to build it, but I think we just designed a much more elegant autorevolver than the Mateba or the W-F. Now what would be really wacky is if you used this principle to build a percussion-fired, front-loading blackpowder semiauto.

[@terrygraham1877]

The most interesting gun yet. Great video!

[@coopernoble6139]

One of these guns was recently passed down to me from my grandfather. I am looking for tips on how to maintain the patina and if it’s worth it to get it working. I don’t have any intention of selling it, and getting it working would really be cool to me. Shooting the gun my great grandfather fired has great value to me, greater than any auction sale. The hammer is marred (probably from dry dropping on the nipple) and won’t pass the top of the gun. It’s also missing the rear sights and ram rod retainer. Would love some tips or to get connected to someone who knows what they’re doing!

[@sloanchampion85]

General Fightin Joe Wheeler carried one of these...the holster for this is a neat and cool looking piece of leather work....this is a beautiful revolver

[@MachineFight]

Man I think I'm in love with this pistol.. its SO DAMN COOL :D

[@1guyin10]

That is a fascinating design! Thanks for doing a video on this one.

[@jamesduke4253]

Super interesting to see a safety on a revolver like this.

[@koehlerrk1]

Very cool design, Ian, thank you again!

[@GrasshopperKelly]

I genuinely love your care for these (I mean, I'm not saying, "hey guns have feelings too!") These to me a mechanical marvels! I just love technical things and engineering! and I honestly don't know why XD but is seems more satisfactory to watch a video on the gun... with things like you manually dropping the hammer so it doesn't "hammer" the cap, or even when your dismantling, and showing the gun. But less satisfactory just watching a video on, "This is a cool gun, it was made by "example" and in "so many years ago". this is how well it shoots"... I realy do prefer this channel over other "gun reviews" so thank you ;)

[@jimbelle3087]

I have someone who was given one of these. He brought to me asking about it. So I had it and took pictures of it and researched it. It is definitely a neat and unique piece of history. But holding and working the action is not very comfortable to hold. The one I had is not range ready and needs alot of work to get it ready. The original loading lever was gone and had a colt 1851 navy loading lever modified to the gun. I think it was more for looks, because it isn't a properly functional ramrod assembly. But definitely a unique weapon . In my opinion I wouldn't consider it as an almost double action. It's more along the line of an early lever action design. Which could have worked over into a lever action rifle, this revolver might have been an attempt to complete with the volcanic repeating handgun. Or at least spawned the idea for the Savage navy revolver. If anyone knows of a loading arm assembly and other parts let me know.

[@scottsammons7747]

I never noticed how tiny Ian's hands are... Definitely need to have one of these taken the the range with "All Things Black Powder"

[@widowpeak6142]

That thing is massive!

[@dalesubic345]

Thanks Ian. Very nicely done as always.

[@anttitheinternetguy3213]

Its like old flintlock pistol, lever action repeater and a classic revolver all in one package

[@biggerbehindthetrigger2814]

I have to have one. There is a space for it in my collection. I have been looking for one for several years now. I have seen a few of them at the big gun show in Denver over the years but at the time they were out of my price range unless i sold one of my other little gems and that goes against collecting. Ian has turned me on to black powder fírearms that I didn't know existed or have seen in my books that I could never find on my own. RIA has happily taken my money on several times. My boss at the gun shop would go in on me with the lots of fírearms when I only want one he buys them for sale at the gun shop. He didn't make much money off of them but he is the wealthiest person I know and the gun shop/range is just a hobby to him. He liked being the importer of Renato Gamba shotguns. Well he was when I left the company in 2002. I have to say that I was able to work with the greatest group of guys and for the most fair owner out of any company ever. We were taken care of well. No one ever complained about how much we made because we were paid well and everyone there knew thier business. I was the reloading guy and antique firearms guy. We all had our specialties and we cross trained each other to become more knowledgeable people. I'm not going to plug the store but it's in Aurora Co . Happy Safe Shooting 🇺🇸💪

[@Reckec]

Really interesting design with some great features. Some of those features seem rather complex and would require precise fitting. I can see why they cost basically twice as much. Were there reliability issues ? As a side, I know patina is desirable but the percussion nipples looked plugged and surrounded by "crud". Were they ?

[@mr420quickscops2]

Very, very nice design

[@duanekeith7816]

Looks like my preferred percussion revolver, yup.

[@TorquilBletchleySmythe]

This! This is the design that could have saved the revolving carbine. The mitigation of chain fires with the semi-sealed barrel could easily have been incorporated by Colt and saved them the embarrassment of their hastily produced example.

[@scottlieberman5904]

The forbidden lever action pistol

[@Psiberzerker]

I don't think you'd get as much muzzle flip with all the leverage you have in that grip, either. The bore axis is much nicer than most modern Double Actions too, but those you've got a back-strap, and a front strap to control the climb. (Unless you've got Uncle Mike's or Pachmayer grips.)

[@bobbydyne]

SAVAGE Navy Revolver *|* You won’t BELIEVE how it was used 😱😱

[@MrASMatherne]

Potentially the most hipster-looking gun in existence, fuckin' love it!!

[@robmanueb.]

Heavy pistol with a smaller caliber than its counterparts, tie in the inline nature of the barrel to the wrist meant it was probably an easy shooting accurate pistol. Heavy with smaller caliber meant it was probably reliable also. No wonder the gun had some popularity.

[@mauricematla1795]

Very cool one Ian.

[@aserta]

Interestingly enough, there's at least one example (modified or not) of this gun being in a carbine form. For those interested "GT0607120008 A Savage Revolving Carbine Two-stage 9.5" Google will present the first link. Not much is said outside of probable age. None the less, even if it's a modification after-the-fact it's still an interesting concept lent to a revolver.

[@captainnemo4770]

Looks like a volcanic and a revolver had a child. Pretty cool engineering.

[@JerryEricsson]

Very cool indeed, I love your videos, I've been a gun nut for years, but the ones you are showing me add to my interest. Not sure, but I may have to start collecting again? Na, the wife would kick my rear if I came home with a carload of guns when I go to the next gun show.

[@randywatson8347]

excellent design

[@timothyboles6457]

That's a really cool firearm

[@draizwrm]

very interesting mechanism, thanks

[@gregmiller9710]

..real steampunk...

[@wikieditspam]

Nope.

[@letsgoBrandon204]

Just the steam, no punk

[@pictishwolf7]

I think it would look good as part of a steampunk costume, too.

[@vaclav_fejt]

Do you feel lucky, steampunk?

[@gregmiller9710]

***** lol...good 1..

[@magamexican6302]

Shoulda coulda woulda off-centered the percussion caps so that the hammer was out of the sight picture?

[@kyleshuler2929]

Garry Owen I was thinking the same thing.

[@cyberus1403]

i wish i could get the chance to redesign it, this kind of revolver has alot of potential for private use

[@mattolfson9230]

It's a shame these didn't benefit from the cardridge conversions that became available to other cap & ball pistols in later decades. ... Or did it?

[@mickleblade]

Capandball channel has video of one these being shot, seems pretty good

[@chrishenkel2194]

But how did they machine such parts back then.. mind blowing

[@kenhelmers2603]

Pretty slick!

[@docthebiker]

If that half turn screw had been a disassembly lever it would have been so far ahead of the competition it might have been worth the extra money. The recessing barrel must have really cut down on action fouling. I hear in a test it did 112 consecutive shots without a fail.

[@jerrshobe6765]

thanks for making this video