LITMIR.BIZ

       Model 1860 Army .44.

1860 MODELS ARMY, NAVY AND POLICE PERCUSSION PISTOLS

      It would be an understatement to maintain that the Civil War was a boon to firearms manufacturers such as Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Mfg. Co. Indeed, Colt’s thrived during the conflict, employing two ten-hour shifts and as many as 1,500 men, while more than a half million Americans died on the battlefield and more than a million were disabled for life. That is an inescapable, if terrible and unfortunate, condition of war. Colt also thrived in spite of a disastrous 1864 fire, probably the result of sabotage by Confederate sympathizers, and the subsequent rebuilding.

      Lt. Colonel Samuel Colt, who would perhaps today be described as a workaholic, and was certainly the most energetic genius, died on January 10, 1862, having directed the design and manufacture of his final series of handguns. His 1860 Series – many adaptable for attachable shoulder stocks – sold more than 280,000 between 1860 and 1873, and were the last new percussion introductions in the Colt line.

       MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER

      This model was the third most produced of the Colt percussion handguns and, with 127,156 delivered, was the primary revolver used by the Union Army during the Civil War. The 1860 Army is a six shot .44 caliber percussion revolver weighing 2 lb., 10 oz. It has either a 7.5- or an 8-inch round barrel with an integral loading lever. The frame, hammer and loading lever are case colored; the barrel and cylinder (either fluted, which is scarce, or round, which have the roll-engraved naval combat scene) are blued. The trigger guard and front strap are brass, and the backstrap is blued steel. Grips are the characteristic Colt one piece walnut. Early models have barrels stamped “ADDRESS SAML. COLT HARTFORD CT.” Later models are stamped “ADDRESS COL. SAML. COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA.” And “COLT’S/PATENT” is stamped on the left side of the frame; “.44 CAL.,” on the trigger guard. The cylinder is roll engraved with a naval battle scene. Between 1860 and 1873, Colt manufactured 200,500 of these 1860 Army Revolvers. Serial numbers began at #1.

      NOTE: This advertisement appeared in the Spring of 2007 at AntiqueGunList.com:

       “Colt 1860 Army, 8 inch barrel, 44 cal., Civilian, manufactured 1868 SN 171XXX. This is a nice ‘60 Army from the 1860s. The barrel address and patent stamp are sharp, the cylinder scene is at least 90% with a readable Engagement line. The cylinder has 30% blue and safety pins remaining. The frame has 70% case colors, the hammer has 80% and the rammer has 20%. The screws are all in good condition with blue remaining. The serial numbers all match except the wedge, which is numbered but not matching. The action is crisp and tight and the bore is a shiny 9. The barrel has 40% shiny blue remaining and the back strap has 30%. The metal is smooth, no pitting only minor dings around the right wedge opening. The original grips have 20% varnish, an old repair to the left front toe, no cracks, minor dings and fit tight. Overall condition fine to excellent. $3,650.”

       MARTIAL MARKED MODEL

       Model 1860 Civilian Model.

       CIVILIAN MODEL

      This model is found in either three or four screw variations and it may or may not be cut for a shoulder stock. Civilian models are usually better finished.

       FULL FLUTED CYLINDER MODEL

      Approximately 4,000 Army Models were made with full fluted cylinders, sometimes called the Cavalry Model. With 7.5- and 8-inch barrels, they appear in the first 8,000 serial numbers.

       SHOULDER STOCK 2ND TYPE (FLUTED CYLINDER MODEL ) OR SHOULDER STOCK 3RD TYPE (STANDARD MODEL )

      NOTE: Expert appraisals should be acquired before a purchase. These are rare accoutrements. Scarcity precludes estimating values.

       MODEL 1861 NAVY REVOLVER

      The 1861 Navy is a six-shot, 7.5-inch round barreled, .36-cal. percussion revolver. The frame, hammer and attached loading lever are case colored, while the barrel and cylinder are blued. The grip frame and trigger guard are silver plated brass. The grips are of one piece walnut. The cylinder has the standard Colt roll engraved naval battle scene, and the barrel stamping is “ADDRESS COL. SAML. COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA.” The frame is stamped “COLT’S/PATENT” with “36 CAL.” on the trigger guard. There are not many variations within the 1861 Navy model designation, as less than 39,000 were built between 1861 and 1873. Their serial numbers begin at #1.

Скачать книгу