Colt's New Model revolving rifle
| Colt Model 1855 revolving carbine | |
|---|---|
M1855 Colt rifle | |
| Type | Rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1855–1876 |
| Used by | United States Native Americans Canada Australia New Zealand United Kingdom British Empire Russian Empire |
| Wars | American Civil War January Uprising American Indian Wars Indian Rebellion of 1857 Australian frontier wars New Zealand wars Fenian Raid Fenian Rising Red River Rebellion Boshin War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1855 |
| Produced | 1855 – 1864 |
| Specifications | |
| Barrel length | 15-inches, 18-inches, 21-inches and 24-inches |
| Cartridge | Cap and ball |
| Caliber | .36, .44, or .56 |
| Action | Revolving |
| Feed system | 6-shot (.36/.44) or 5-shot (.56) |
The Colt New Model revolving rifles were early repeating rifles produced by the Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1855 until 1864. The design was essentially similar to revolver-type handguns, with a rotating cylinder that held five or six rounds in a variety of calibers from .36 to .64 inches. They were mainly based upon the Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer Pocket Revolver developed by Elisha K. Root. Colt revolving pistols and rifles were attractive mainly because of their high rate of fire. They were used to a limited extent on the Pony Express and made a brief appearance in the American Civil War. However, the rifles were generally disliked by soldiers, and were ultimately discontinued due to serious design flaws.