Sisterdale Texas Confederate Revolver

/ forgottenweapons
The Sisterdale revolver is one of the most original designs of the Confederate revolvers. It was devised by a group of Texans led by one Alfred Kapp, son of a German immigrant in Sisterdale, Texas. He and his compatriots made six of these revolvers on the Kapp homestead with the intention of obtaining a contract to make them for the Texas government and for their own armament during the Civil War.
The plan came to naught, most likely because the revolver's design left much to be desired. In particular, it features a long flat spring as a cylinder stop on the top strap, and an external hand to rotate the cylinder. Of the six apparently manufactured, only this example is known to exist today, having been passed down for decades by the Kapp family.
/ forgottenweapons

[@georgiahoosier]

If only Kapp had thrown in partners with someone named Ball. "What pistol is that?" "It's a Kapp and Ball" "Well I know that but who made it?"

[@elliotmulliner7905]

Leaves Germany due to political unrest....arrives in US 10 years before Civil War... Now thats just bad luck.

[@dalemoss4684]

You gotta admire the level of workmanship achieved by a couple of blacksmiths in 1860.

[@jamesmanzano5231]

253,000 was the selling price. I don’t look at the prices on most as I’m just interested in the guns and I don’t have the kind of money to even buy a $5,000 gun, but 253,000 is impressive.

[@theeasternfront6436]

I grew up right down the road from Sisterdale and never knew anything about this slice of history. Cool.

[@johnmcclain3887]

I've had a rather enjoyable few weeks, I've long studied the war, the arms, and history, as a professional Marine, and have enjoyed getting to see arms I've known of, for decades, but never saw before. This was among the most unusual. I've been working on black powder guns for fifty years, and really enjoy their simplicity, reliability and the historic aspect. Thanks for some most unusual weapons. Semper Fidelis, John McClain

[@dr.johnpaladinshow9747]

From the family to the museum to the private market (WOW...$1/4 million)... pretty sure the family would not approve. My family donated my great grandfathers 1873 Winchester to a small museum in 1973. The gun is still there... and it better stay there !!

[@billd.iniowa2263]

Always interested to see Civil war stuff. These werent the only one-off products done in the South. Many cottage industries sprang up to fill the need for arms, as well as clothing, harnesses, wagons, belt buckles, limbers, ammo, you name it. The South was short on materials in just about every way. They had plenty of spirit tho. Many marched off to war with their very own guns on their shoulders.

[@arbhall7572]

Gotta admit, I really love these big, blocky, chunk of steel style pistols of the era. Those solid blocks of steel look like they are going to last another hundred years with no trouble, thank you to everyone on and off camera for all your obvious hard work.

[@rapidrrobert4333]

Ian ... I hope you are documenting every firearm you show us. You could write an awesome firearm history book, or better yet, series of books. Keep up the great work.

[@grosenj]

This website is simply ridiculously brilliant! There is always something interesting, it is always explained in a very serious and professional manner and the weapons themselves is so exotic and unique. I don´t know how many hours I have spend watching the videos, i don´t think I´ve ever felt bored. Thanks!

[@TheDiggus]

Has to be Wilhelm Schmidt because Schmidt isn't a first name. Greetings from Germany.

[@1RiderPale]

Ran across this video and Sisterdale caught my eye. I ate lunch there a few years ago on drive through with a BMW car club.

[@Jesses001]

Well it is rather good quality for a period version of a garage special. Seems simple enough. I like how the stop works.

[@russbilzing5348]

Although unmentioned, I like that they used the backward movement of the hammer to lift the upper spring in order to release the tension on the indexing notches.

[@nichisjesus]

WHOA! Cheers from Boerne, just down the road from Sisterdale! I grew up in San Antonio and currently live on the outskirts of Boerne, one of the many towns in the area with German origins. I'm a motorcyclist, and one of my favorite rides is the scenic F.M. 1376 that goes between Boerne and Sisterdale, and then continuing onto F.M. 473 and 474. Sisterdale is REALLY quite a small town still, with pleasant sights, old structures, and

[@avro549B]

I appreciate the scholarship and sober but pleasant delivery of this series. The history of firearms does lead down some strange paths at times.

[@smartmeis]

The nicest gun ive seen from that era. Remington really set it off with solid frames.

[@pfdrtom]

The internet can be amazing sometimes. I live a few miles from Sisterdale and had never heard this. Thanks, Ian!

[@Mrgunsngear]

Good stuff, thanks