[Bob Wright]

Originally Posted by RL357Mag

Didn't Teddy Roosevelt have problems stopping drug-crazed enemies with the .38 revolver? I believe the Colt SAA in .45 LC received high honors during that campaign.

Don't thik it was during the Spanish-American War, but the Phillipine occupation that followed, with the Moro revolt. Some old Colt Single Action revolvers were recalled and refurbished, having their original barrels cut to 5 1/2" from the original 7 1/2" lengths. In addition to these the Army purchased a number of rod-ejector Model 1878 Double Action revolvers, designating them Model 1902 models.

But the ammunition furnished was not the .45 Colt but the .45 S&W round that had been adopted in 1875. The long .45 M1909 cartridge came into use with the M1909 Colt New Service and remained in used until the .45 ACP was adopted in 1911. I have some M1909 rounds made by Frankford arsenal in 1913, so the .45 auto didn't immediately come on board.

Bob Wright

[Mark F]

Originally Posted by RL357Mag

Didn't Teddy Roosevelt have problems stopping drug-crazed enemies with the .38 revolver? I believe the Colt SAA in .45 LC received high honors during that campaign.

Yes he did... .38's would pass right through those crazed dudes. Teddy NEEDED a 1911 A1...

[RL357Mag]

Originally Posted by Mark F

Yes he did... .38's would pass right through those crazed dudes. Teddy NEEDED a 1911 A1...

That's what I thought I saw on a History Channel episode - the engagement was with the Moro's, and they were drugged up on some root they would chew on to get them all hyped up before battle - the .38 didn't do squat but the Colt .45 revolver knocked 'em dead. Unfortunately this was before the 1911 was available.

[Squirrel]

Perhaps as the size of armies increased, they were looking for weapons that were easier to train people to use. And to go along with lower level of training they wanted lighter rounds that one could carry more of.

[Boris]

Originally Posted by Bob Wright

Thanks for your responses. Here's my take on the subject, just my thinking, nothing official.

By 1892 the U.S. Army was winding down its Indian campaign. Only the United States and England fought the "savage wars" campaigns after the 1870s or so. Since European armies assumed conflicts would be between "civilized" nations, the need for powerful handguns seemed unlikely. England continued in its frontier wars in Africa and India.

Further, mounted warfare was winding down. U.S. Army cavalry officers emphasized that the carbine, not the revolver, was the weapon of choice for the cavalry. The horse was used for rapid troop deployment to the combat zone, whereupon the cavalry dismounted and fought as light infantry.

This just my surmise, you understand.

Bob Wright

I think you are likely quite right, the British had considerable quantities of 455 service ammunition which also was a factor, the Mk6 Webley was issued in the second war. 455 auto for the Colt 1911 was dropped sometime after the first war although I'm told it wasn't a bad round. I owned one at time in the UK, a 1911 in 455 Eley, but most where butchered in the late seventies and converted to 45acp. Any surviving examples where obviously destroyed during the recent confiscation....

[Mark F]

Back in the days of the "Rough Riders" their choices were limited and powder technology was sparse at best. 44's & 45's were about as good as you were going to get. What they lacked in velocity was made up in size.