Any good reference sites for firearms used in the Old West?

In a few months I'm going to start work on a western comic for Top Shelf Productions. I haven't gotten a definite timeline for the book but I'm assuming somewhere between 1870's to 1880's.

We're going for realism (think "Lonesome Dove") here so if anyone can point me to a site that has a good collection of firearms used during that time I'd much appreciate it. Thanks.

Chris

to fit the rules you'll have to couch it in a legal or self defense context context, i.e. "Are there any weapons that were available between 1870 and 1880 that don't require a concealed carry license or a permit or going through the background check? Is there a website to give information on those weapons?"

You'll get what ya' need . . . .

were used long into the cartridge era.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

(SAA/Peacemaker) was first made in 1873. Before that revolvers were black powder percussion revolvers, such as the Colt Navy (.36 caliber), the Colt Army (.44 caliber) the Remington, Starr, and many more made in the US. I want you to please take time to study this and get it right - there is NOTHING that makes me lose interest in a book or movie where guns are a big part of the narative when it is obvious that the writers don't know what they are talking about. I suggest you go to a large gun shop - Cabela's comes to mind - and check some of the single action revolvers used in Cowboy Action Shooting today. Even buy a modern repro black powder revolver (Get a Colt Army) and get familiar with it. (Under $300). They are a lot of fun and very intersting to shoot.
I will send you to this auction site so you can get some idea about what was what:
http://www.armchairgunshow.com/

Any books by Jim Supica or single action revolver shooting books by Mike Venturino would be very valuable - Mike is more practical shooting stuff.
Google "Single Action Shooting Society", "Cowboy Action Shooting", Old West guns, 19th Century firerarms, etc and follow where they take you.
Be warned of 2 things - you can make a career out of finding out about these guns and they are very addictive to shoot and own, and god help you if you have a lot of money - they can get very expensive.

Enjoy your education and good luck.
FWIW, I have been doing "field research" on various guns for over 50 years and I'm no expert.

mark

Various conversion of Colt and Remington revolvers 1868-1873

http://home.clara.net/talkingcats/colt/

http://www.remingtonsociety.com/questions/Smoot.htm

It was cheaper, and faster, to convert a basic design, while designing a totally new weapon.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas