Never a factory option, the “Mormon Avenger” was a style of heavily modified single-action percussion revolver that appeared sometime after the Civil War and had both a ton of swagger and a good bit of history associated with them. In addition to being one of the forerunners of today’s snub-nosed revolvers.
Mr. Samuel Colt, with his early Paterson and later Dragoon series wheel guns of the 1830s and 40s ushered in revolvers. By 1851, his 36 caliber Navy-pattern six-shooter cap and ball revolvers were among the most popular combat handguns in the world. And his .44 caliber 1860 Model found adoption with the Union Army (while the Confederates used a good number of 1851s and unlicensed clones made in the South during the Civil War.)
By the late 1860s, over a half-million Colt wheel guns had been made and, in a country with only about 1/10th the population that we have today, a glut of Adams revolvers imported from England and domestic designs by Savage and Smith and Wesson, the market was flooded.
Which meant war surplus Colt percussion revolvers were cheap in the Old West and inexpensive guns can be readily modified without a lot of heartburn to the owner. Especially if they are carrying several of them about their person.
The history of the American West has a thread of Mormonism sewn through its fabric. Early Mormon settlements and pilgrims could be found extensively in all points west of Missouri from 1850 onward. As noted in “On the Mormon Frontier: The Diary of Hosea Stout, 1844-1861,” those headed to the frontier were often given a pistol to carry with them by the church and in many cases trained by those with experience on how to use them.
Mormon leader Brigham Young even kept as his personal bodyguard one Orrin Porter “Old Port” Rockwell who is often called the “Avenging Angel” and “Mormon Avenger.” Rockwell, a renowned mountain man and scout, was a Deputy U.S. Marshal and long-time marshal of Great Salt Lake City. Involved in numerous gunfights for various reasons (Some still controversial today), he once told a crowd; “I never killed anyone who didn’t need killing.”
He died of natural causes at age 64 in 1878 and is reputed to have carried several chopped down Colt cap and ball guns for personal defense.
Shortened to a 2-ish inch barrel, the cylinder-loading rod was removed and a new sight mounted on the end of the abbreviated barrel.
Other minor changes, including trimming the heel and toe of the wooden grips and adding a lanyard are also seen in these types of modified guns. While there are a few 1860 models that pop up, most tend to be the 1851 Navy gun, which coincidentally had a shorter trigger guard and smaller caliber which may have contributed to their choice.
Porter knew how to conceal-carry. His stories are varied but many of his gunfights end with the deployment of a concealed carry gun.
One day a Sheriff Reynolds came to the jail and offered Porter a large sum of money if Porter would take him to Joseph Smith so that the Prophet could be captured. “I will see you damned first,” responded Porter. Not only did Porter defend himself, but he defended Joseph and the Church. Men and brethren, be like Porter.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Mr. Samuel Colt, with his early Paterson and later Dragoon series wheel guns of the 1830s and 40s ushered in revolvers. By 1851, his 36 caliber Navy-pattern six-shooter cap and ball revolvers were among the most popular combat handguns in the world. And his .44 caliber 1860 Model found adoption with the Union Army (while the Confederates used a good number of 1851s and unlicensed clones made in the South during the Civil War.)
By the late 1860s, over a half-million Colt wheel guns had been made and, in a country with only about 1/10th the population that we have today, a glut of Adams revolvers imported from England and domestic designs by Savage and Smith and Wesson, the market was flooded.
Which meant war surplus Colt percussion revolvers were cheap in the Old West and inexpensive guns can be readily modified without a lot of heartburn to the owner. Especially if they are carrying several of them about their person.
The history of the American West has a thread of Mormonism sewn through its fabric. Early Mormon settlements and pilgrims could be found extensively in all points west of Missouri from 1850 onward. As noted in “On the Mormon Frontier: The Diary of Hosea Stout, 1844-1861,” those headed to the frontier were often given a pistol to carry with them by the church and in many cases trained by those with experience on how to use them.
Mormon leader Brigham Young even kept as his personal bodyguard one Orrin Porter “Old Port” Rockwell who is often called the “Avenging Angel” and “Mormon Avenger.” Rockwell, a renowned mountain man and scout, was a Deputy U.S. Marshal and long-time marshal of Great Salt Lake City. Involved in numerous gunfights for various reasons (Some still controversial today), he once told a crowd; “I never killed anyone who didn’t need killing.”
He died of natural causes at age 64 in 1878 and is reputed to have carried several chopped down Colt cap and ball guns for personal defense.
Shortened to a 2-ish inch barrel, the cylinder-loading rod was removed and a new sight mounted on the end of the abbreviated barrel.
Other minor changes, including trimming the heel and toe of the wooden grips and adding a lanyard are also seen in these types of modified guns. While there are a few 1860 models that pop up, most tend to be the 1851 Navy gun, which coincidentally had a shorter trigger guard and smaller caliber which may have contributed to their choice.
Porter knew how to conceal-carry. His stories are varied but many of his gunfights end with the deployment of a concealed carry gun.
One day a Sheriff Reynolds came to the jail and offered Porter a large sum of money if Porter would take him to Joseph Smith so that the Prophet could be captured. “I will see you damned first,” responded Porter. Not only did Porter defend himself, but he defended Joseph and the Church. Men and brethren, be like Porter.
Check 6
Burn
