Civil War Period Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver

Civil War Period Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver – These 1860 Army revolvers were in production from 1860 through 1873, with a total of just over 200,000 pistols manufactured. This example has all matching serial numbers, to include the wedge and cylinder – 46,838 – indicating that the revolver was manufactured sometime in 1862. The pistol is .44 cal. and has a six-shot, rebated cylinder, with the longer 8” barrel (indicative of an early production revolver); the barrel is round with a creeping style loading lever. The grips are one-piece walnut; this revolver was issued to the U.S. military, as there is a government inspector’s cartouche on the lower area of the right grip and additional sub-inspector’s initials on several of the metallic components of the revolver, as well. There are two letter “W”s carved in the grips and an unusual script large letter “G” stamped in the right frame. The frame, hammer and loading lever are casehardened, with a trace remaining; the trigger guard is brass and the backstrap is blued steel. On the top of the barrel is stamped:

“ADDRESS SAM^L COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA”

On the left shoulder of the frame is stamped:

“COLTS

 PATENT”

The cylinder roll scene depicts a battle between the Texas Navy and the Mexican Navy. The Colt Army ranks third in the total production by Colt of percussion revolvers; it was the most significant revolver utilized by Federal troops during the Civil War, with over 125,000 acquired by the Federal Government, during the war. This is an excellent example of the storied 1860 Army; it remains in overall very good condition, with crisp action, an appealing plum gray finish and good rifling remaining in the bore. The walnut grips retain most of their original varnish.