A Good Original US Civil War .44 Cal. Colt, 1860 Model Army Percussion Revolver. Manufactured in 1862

44 Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver, serial numbered to 1862 manufacture, 8 ins round barrel indistinctly stamped with Colt New York address, German-silver blade front sight, creeping loading lever, 6 shot rebated cylinder plain frame, brass trigger guard and iron back strap with shoulder stock indentation, hardwood grips, all matching serial numbers.
This original 1860 model Colt Army 44 cal. revolver would be a most fine addition to, or start of, any collection of fine arms. A delightful revolver of American history, with a very strong spring action and average age wear.The largest percussion calibre of pistol made by Colt in the Civil War and Wild West era, and one of the most popular revolvers of the war, used by both combatant sides of the Union and the Confederacy. As the successor to the big Colt Dragoon, this sleek and handsome hogleg packed plenty of power but was easier to handle. Colt’s 1860 was used by the U.S. Cavalry, the Texas Rangers and General Ben McCulloch’s Texas Confederates, Wells Fargo detective James Hume, Mormon “Avenging Angel” Porter Rockwell, El Paso City Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire, the James brothers Jesse James and Frank James, Wes Hardin, Sam Bass and scores of good and bad men alike. Its serial numbers are mismatched but this is the good tell tale sign of a re-worked gun from the Springfield Armoury that serviced Colt Armys during the Civil War without any concern for rematching the numbers. It also bears a large S re-worked stamp on the trigger guard. A true icon of 19th century America and one of the most famous and best Colt revolvers of it's type ever made. It had the greatest stopping power, and was a very popular and highly effective pistol from the Civil War, and into the Wild West era. There were many, many world famous officers and cowboys who used this very form of revolver, and Jesse James was photographed wearing several of them which he captured in combat fighting for the Confederacy in 1864 with Quantrill's Raiders. It was favoured as a side arm by cavalry, infantry, and artillery troops.

Around 200,000 were manufactured from 1860 through 1873. Colt's biggest customer was the US Government with over 127,000 units being purchased and issued to the troops. The weapon was a single-action, six-shot weapon accurate up to 75 to 100 yards, where the fixed sights were typically set when manufactured. The rear sight was a notch in the hammer, clearly visible only when the revolver was cocked.

The Colt .44-calibre “Army" Model was one of the most widely used revolvers of the Civil War. It was the revolver of choice for officers, artillerymen, and cavalrymen. The Colt .44 had a six-shot, rotating cylinder. It fired a 0.454-inch diameter round lead ball, or a conical projectile, that was propelled by a 30 grain charge of black powder ignited by a brass percussion cap that was struck by the hammer. When fired, balls had a muzzle velocity of about 750 feet per second.

Action nice and crisp, good bore

Code: 24798