Did Custer carry a Webley RIC?

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

If anyone can answer my question, here's the original post:

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,29437.msg386980.html#new

[Dusty Morningwood]

Interesting translation of an article.

http://www.buygunsforsale.com/articles/webley-and-scott

Immature Bighorn? 

[Two-Step]

We have discussed this very thing at another forum and seems to have come about from an article in a magazine.

There is a lot of debate regarding what Custer actually used. Some say Bull Dogs, some say Schofields, some say Merwin Hulberts some say Colts, and now some are saying he used a Weberly. There are even a couple of depictions showing him using using black powder Navy Colts...

The plain and simple fact of the matter is that we will probably never know what Custer actually used during his last stand. But, the supposition that Custer used the Weberly comes from the idea that it is supposedly the only pistol in his eminence collection that has not been accounted for...

Who knows for sure?

[St. George]

Special Interests - Groups & Societies / Cas City Historical Society / Re: General Custer's Double Action Revolver  on: November 16, 2009, 08:48:37 AM 


Taking a look  at actual forensic evidence as gathered during the archaeological finds, you'll see:

Forehand & Wadsworth .32 Rimfire
Colt .36
Colt .38
Sharps .40 -.45 and .50
Ethan Allen or Forehand & Wadsworth .42
S&W American .44
Evans Old model .44
Henry .44
200-gr .44
Miscellaneous and Unknown .40
Winchester .44-40
Colt and S&W .45
Springfield .45-55
.45 Unidentified
Spencer
Unidentified .50 rimfire
Springfield .50-70
Maynard
Miscellaneous and Unidentified .50
Starr
Enfield
Round Ball - .44, .45, .50
Shot

No identifiable Webley rounds were found.

The above are attributal to all of the sites investigated.

More on this is found in 'Archaeological Perspectives on the Battle of the Little Big Horn' - by Scott, Fox, Connor and Harmon.

It's the record of the digs conducted across the battlefield after the grass fires of August 1983 stripped off all of the thatch and underbrush of the site - and the follow-on 1984-85 dgging season that completely covered the area.

This is the print version of what you've seen on 'The History Channel', and it goes into great depth, as archaeological work does - yet it's compelling...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Dr. Bob]

On a thread on the Historical Society [IIRC] there was a mention of a report that Custer was killed quite early in the battle and carried to the "Last Stand" ground.  This would account for no Webley-Gallarnd cartridges being found.

[Virginia Gentleman]

Webley not Weberly.

[.56/50 Iron]

Another great book that has Douglas Scott as a contributor (Analysis of firearms used, relic cases and bullets, battlefield mapping, etc) is one entitled, "Battles of the Red River War: Archaeological Perspectives on the Indian Campaign of 1874", by Brett Cruse. This was published in September of last year. You need both of these books! I just finished "Red Rver War..." and it is going off to Mr. Scott for his autograph! His work with relics that are metal detected after 140 years laying on the battlefield is absolutely unbelievable! This man is extremely knowledgeable in regard to these period rifles right down to the style and characteristics of the rifling that marked the recovered slugs. He needs to do more of this. The "Custer Battlefield" work has already been aired on the History Channel not too long ago and is simply riveting! If Scott found no Webley fired casings, then there wasn't a Webley on the battlefield! Really!! The book is almost 300 pages of photos and detailed maps, hard cover, 8.5x11 inches hardcover. Available for about $20 or so from Amazon. Someone noted on the SSS board that I tend to get excited...Well this book did it!!
.56/50 Iron

[Cole Younger]

I think the question is fairly well settled that Col. Custer was carrying at least one Webley Royal Irish Constabulary revolver, when he was killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.  This is pretty well-documented and sourced by at least one of his officers.  This does not preclude him having carried a "Bulldog" as that is a generic term and would've been applied to the Royal Irish Constabulary. 

Garry James has an excellent article on this exact topic in this month's Guns and Ammo.