An Original US Civil War Remington New Model Army Revolver With Later Bespoke Antique Fitted Case, Flask & Tools

In very nice condition for age, with a really tight and crisp action. One of the most sought after and iconic American revolvers of the Civil War and Wild West era. A scarce 8 inch sighted octagonal barrel stamped with the manufacturer's details, plain cylinder and frame, the serial number, brass trigger guard, two-piece wooden grips, Sub inspector letters stamped 'U and B. The Remington Model 1858 was a cap & ball (also called "percussion") 44-calibre revolver used during the American Civil War from 1862 onwards. It was used primarily by Union soldiers, and widely favoured over the standard issue Colt Army Model 1860 by those who could afford it, due primarily to its durability and ability to quickly reload. Of course if a gun such as this was captured in a Confederate victory it would be eagerly used by it's new southern states owner as a highly prized trophy of war. It also saw considerable use in the American West, both in its original cap & ball configuration and as a metallic cartridge conversion.
A prized possession of the Remington Arms Company is similar, original, New Model Army with ivory grips once carried by William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody see photo in our gallery. The historic revolver is on display with Cody's simple handwritten note, "It never failed me". Cody carried the revolver in original percussion form well into the cartridge era, and never converted it to cartridge use. The Remington “Army” .44 percussion revolver was the primary competition to the Colt M1860 .44 percussion revolver during the American Civil War era. Although Sam Colt was the better salesman and marketer, Remington eventually beat Colt out of their military contracts by delivering a comparable (some felt superior) product for less money. In 1864, after the US government had finally beat Colt’s price down to $14.00 per revolver, they had been paying $20.00 or more per gun in the early days of the war, Remington agreed to furnish their “Army” revolver for only $12.00 per gun. That ended the reign of the Colt Army as the first choice for the Ordnance Department procurement officers.
In the field, even though the Colt revolver had the name and the mystique, many cavalry troopers preferred the much sturdier solid frame design of the Remington revolver. According to the research published in Remington Army & Navy Revolvers 1861-1868 by Donald L. Ware, Remington revolvers through serial 149,000 were accepted prior to the end of the Civil War. No license required to own or collect. The flask and mould in the case are non original replacements, but could easily be replaced in the future themselves with original types. The barrel is lightly surface pitted, as is some of the frame, but the cylinder is near pitting free

Code: 24976