Civil War Remington 1858 New Model Army .44 Cal 8″ Revolver MFD Antique
SOLD FOR: $1818
LSB#: 220128MD001
Make: Remington
Model: 1858 New Model Army
Serial Number: 48075
Year of Manufacture: 1863-1865
Caliber: .44 Caliber Ball
Action Type: Percussion Cap and Ball Single Action Revolver
Markings: The left side of the grip frame and bottom of the barrel are marked with the serial number. The rear face of the cylinder is marked “H”, “K”, and “7969”. There are a host of inspection marks. The side of the cylinder is marked “H”. The left side of the loading lever is marked “H”. The left side of the frame behind the recoil shield is marked “L”. The left side of the frame at the forcing cone is marked “H”. The left side of the barrel at the frame is marked “C”. The right side of the frame at the forcing cone is marked “H” but it is heavily worn. The right side of the barrel at the frame is marked “L”. The bottom of the trigger guard is marked “C”. The bottom of the barrel in front of the loading lever retainer has a mark too faint to make out. The top of the barrel is marked “PATENTED SEPT. 14. 1858 / REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, NEW YORK, U.S.A. / NEW MODEL”.
Barrel Length: 8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a mortised post fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V” notch at the end of a groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are smooth wood panels. The grips are worn and shy to the grip frame. There is a crack on the bottom of the right panel at the front. There is a slight gap between the grip frame and the bottom of the right grip. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs, and compressions. The right grip screw escutcheon is proud to the wood and has been reinstalled. The grips rate in about Good overall condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Nickel
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is dark and the rifling is worn but visible. There is erosion, pitting, and oxidation throughout.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 60% of its metal finish. There are what look like initals hand inscribed on the butt of the grip frame, they appear to read “ASE”. There are scattered areas of finish loss, some have taken on oxidation and others remain bright. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There are some tool marks into the metal on the sides of the frame at the loading lever retention screw. There are some marks into the metal on the edges of the barrel, most noticeable at the frame. There are some little bubbles in the finish. There is wear to the cylinder notches. There is a turn line through the finish on the cylinder. The screwheads display tool marks. The markings are mostly clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Good condition as an Antique.
Mechanics: The action does not function correctly. The cylinder spins intermittently. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a certificate of authenticity from a previous seller.
Our Assessment: The Remington 1858 Army revolver was a sidearm used by the Union during the Civil War. The U.S. government ordered a large number of revolvers due to a fire at the Colt factory that shut down their production of the 1860 Army Revolver. By 1865 they had purchased 115,557 so this one was likely used in the Civil War. Not only was this type of revolver used in the Civil War but it found itself being used in the American West. This single-action six-shot revolver is known for having a solid design and being very reliable due to its solid frame unlike the competing open tops. The solid frame design gave it an advantage over the competing Colt models, and it is said Civil War soldiers were known to trade their Colts for Remingtons after the war after seeing the differences firsthand. Buffalo Bill Cody carried a New Model Army throughout the Indian Wars and his show appearances, and never converted it to cartridge use, which is a testament to the popularity of this revolver. The New Model Army is commonly called the Model 1858 because of its patent date on the barrel, but it was not actually produced until 1863, the 1861 Old Model having preceded it. The design became one of the most beloved cap and ball designs and has such a good design and fan following that reproduction houses have been making replicas for decades. Here is your chance to pick up the real thing, with the inspection marks, this is a revolver you can add to a Civil War or Remington collection. Please see our photos and good luck!