Colt’s engineers instead concentrated their efforts on developing a new .44-cal. revolver. The gun incorporated the Model 1851 Navy’s frame, but accepted a .44-cal. rebated cylinder.

Following up on his popular .36-caliber M1851 Navy, Colt introduced the more powerful .44-caliber Army. It proved the most widely used revolver of the Civil War. Nearly 130,000 were in service ...