Civil War Remington 1858 New Model Army .44 Cal 8″ Revolver MFD Antique
SOLD FOR: $2000
LSB#: 211006MW15
Make: Remington
Model: 1858 New Model Army
Serial Number: 52541
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. There are a host of inspection marks. The rear face of the cylinder is marked “K”. The side of the cylinder is marked “C” and “A”. The left side of the loading lever, left side of the frame behind the recoil shield, right side of the frame at the forcing cone, and right side of the barrel at the frame are marked “W”. The bottom of the trigger guard, left side of the barrel at the frame, and left side of the frame at the forcing cone are marked “P”. The bottom of the barrel in front of the loading lever retainer is marked “T”. The top of the barrel is marked “PATENTED SEPT. 14. 1858 / REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, NEW YORK, U.S.A. / NEW MODEL”. The left grip is marked with a faded cartouche. The bottom face of the left grip is marked “C”.
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. There are some scattered little compressions and dings. The deepest marks are on the bottom faces. The grips are shy in certain areas. There are no chips or cracks. The grips rate in about Fine overall condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue with Brass Trigger Guard
Finish Originality: Areas of original finish and bright metal are visible but it appears that a clear coating has been applied. Other areas appear touched up.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is strong with rounded edges. There are a few patches of erosion and light pitting.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains less than 15% of its metal finish. Some areas appear to have a clear coating. There are areas of bright metal and lightly patinaed metal. There are some marks from abrasive cleaning, most noticeable on the loading lever and sides of the frame. There are some areas of finish that appear touched up, most noticeable on the cylinder. There are some little spots of erosion on the cylinder under the finish. There are some scattered little nicks and dings, most noticeable on the butt of the grip frame. 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 Very Good condition as an Antique
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup has some side-to-side movement. The nipples are onscurred. 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: None.
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!