Details of the weapon
Dixie Gun Works’ .44-caliber version of the Dance revolver is made in Italy by F.lli Pietta and closely replicates the distinctive styling of the famous Confederate guns made in Texas. Pietta realizes what would otherwise be an undecorated revolver in a fantastic reproduction with tortoiseshell-colored castle, loading lever, hammer and trigger, and a satisfactory rendering of period browning as far as barrel and drum are concerned.
The castle is made of brass, like the originals. Weighing 2 pounds, 9.5 ounces, the Pietta Home Dance falls within half an ounce of the 1851 Navy, which has a fully octagonal 7-1/2-inch barrel. Dance uses an octagonal ferrule and a round barrel with an overall length of 8 inches, exactly like the 1863 J.H. Dance models. Colt used a brass-tipped front sight on the 1851, while Dance made available to Confederate soldiers an easily identifiable brass-bladed front sight similar to the design used on the Colt 1860 Army.
The 36-gauge Colt Navy drums, which featured engravings made by W. L. Ormsby of the Texas Navy’s victory over the Mexican Navy in 1843, were 1-11/16 inches long, while the Dances, which could be 36- or 44-gauge, had an entirely unadorned and slightly longer drum. The grips on the Dance were one-piece oiled walnut with longer, curved bands than the Colt Navy and fit the hand more smoothly but were purchased less than the 1860 Army model.
Pietta did an outstanding job of reproducing the revolver down to the smallest detail Dance. For a visual comparison, the two weapons can be seen on page 266 of the book Firearms of the Confederacy by Claude E. Fuller and Richard D. Steuart.
The fact that the Dance does not have a recoil shield is a double-edged sword, as this makes it easier to conceal in one hand but also makes it easier for the ammunition not to be hit by the recoil in when there is nothing behind it on any side of the castle, (a small tip on the edge of the ammunition before placing it over the cap (nipple) would help keep it safe). The castle design also leaves the percussion capsules more vulnerable to the (external) elements and the shooter’s hand more exposed to back flash.
As a military sidearm the John Henry Dance & Bros. weapons defends well against the Union Colt Navy, with the same degree of lift, aim, and ease of use. The Pietta model embodies all that, and for Civil War nostalgics whose interests fall more toward rare Confederate weapons, this one has a purchase price of $342.50 so it is really worth buying.
Was the Dance revolver a good weapon? The answer may simply be that it was a good enough weapon, but too little to be enough. Perhaps no other weapon of the 19th century knew better than the Confederacy the true meaning of the words “settle”.
Confederate gun skin
Confederate holsters were either “former” American holsters or replicas, holsters made for a specific gun (such as a LeMat), or handcrafted leather, such as this reproduction California Pattern design made famous during the Civil War by Southern irregular soldiers. It was a mix of partisans and non-partisans whose purpose was to attack Northern troops and raid Union camps.
Among the most infamous and feared were Quantrill’s Raiders led by William Clarke Quantrill, who was a self-proclaimed Colonel in command. His band, which included Frank and Jesse James, not only fought for the South but also for their own personal gain, which made them both Confederates and outlaws in the North, and some times outlaws even among many loyal Southerners. A Southern hero or villain in the context of war, Quantrill’s actions and tactics in battle are still a subject of dissertation nowadays.
He was killed in action in May 1865 during a raid against Union troops in Kentucky, but the James boys kept alive the legend that he was alive long after the Civil War ended.
The Quantrill-style holster worn by the author is a California Pattern with a triple-recurved profile that is very pronounced at the top edge. Deeply carved floral carving with a dotted background and precise triple border highlights the body of the holster, which is brightly outlined along the main seam and finished with an engraved brass end capsule.
This distinctive feature was rare but not uncommon on California Pattern holsters in the 1850s and 1860s, although brass or silver end caps were more commonly used on military saddle holsters. The holster is mounted on an adjustable belt with an all-seeing eye and two Masonic sword pieces on the buckle. This rig was entirely handmade in Spain by 45 Makers and is among several Confederate-style holsters made available by the company today. 45maker.com; 801-628-7219.
Releasing the dog
The Dance is a well-built black-powder pistol with a hammer draw averaging around 7 pounds 10 ounces, and with a small, light trigger so that 2 pounds 6.7 ounces average, as measured with a Lyman trigger weight gauge. With that featherweight trigger you are not able to pull off the target. Pietta models are only available in .44 caliber, and Dixie Guns Works recommends loading the Dance with 22-grain FFFg (or a black powder substitute measured by grain, not weight).
Loading during the test was 22 grains of Pyrodex P covered by an Ox-Yoke Wonder Wad lubricated felt pad and topped with a Hornady Black Powder .44 cal (.454) lead ball. The percussion capsules were Dynamit Nobel No. 1075.
During the Civil War, the fighting distance with a gun could be no less than a few yards (especially if on horseback or in a close encounter) up to 100 feet and more. For the Dance test, I opted for 50 feet, the same distance used to test Single Action revolvers when used to shoot the target without support.
The first test round hit the target six inches above the firing point. After some corrections, I fired an entire drum and placed six shots within a four-inch circumference. A few more loadings and fine tuning allowed for a group-overall best-of-six shots measuring just over three inches in circumference with the best three at 0.75 inches.
Overall, the Dance is as easy to use as any Colt 1851 Navy; sturdily built, with a smooth action and a front sight blade with which it is easy to shoot hard. As with many Civil War-era guns, the Dance is easy to disassemble for cleaning, despite being a dirty job. James Henry Dance and his brothers were right in 1862 and so was Pietta 153 years later.
Firearms of the Confederacy by Claud E. Fuller and Richard D. Steuart, 1996, The National Rifle Association, Odysseus Editions, Inc.
For more information, visit dixiegunworks.com ; or call 800-238-6785.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Revolver Dixie Gun Works Dance & Bros.
Manufacturer F.lli Pietta, Italy
Caliber: 44
Barrel: Octagonal to round, 8 inches
Overall length: 14 inches
Weight: 2 pounds, 9-1/2 ounces
Handles: Walnut
Sights: Brass front blade, dog with rear spur
Action: Single
Finish: Castle colored, browned cane
Capacity: 6
List Price: $342.50
