Factory Cartridge Remington 1858 New Model Army .44 RF 8″ Revolver Antique
SOLD FOR: $1750
LSB#: 220504DW006
Make: Remington
Model: 1858 New Model Army Cartridge Conversion
Serial Number: 90236
Year of Manufacture: 1863-1888
Caliber: .44 Caliber Rimfire
Action Type: Percussion Metallic Cartridge Single Action Revolver
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “PATENTED SEPT. 14. 1858 / REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, NEW YORK, U.S.A. / NEW MODEL”. The left side of the trigger guard is marked “UB”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “634”. The interior of each grip is marked with the serial number in pencil. The side of the cylinder is marked “PATENTED APRIL 3’d 1855”.
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. There is a cut in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are smooth wood panels. There are some nicks, dings, scrapes, and scratches. Some of the marks have removed portions of surface wood. There are areas of discoloration. There are areas of thinning and finish loss. There are no chips or cracks. The grips rate in about Very Good overall condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue with Brass Trigger Guard
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp. There are some scattered spots of erosion and pitting.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 35% of its metal finish. There is a cut in the topstrap. There is mottled finish loss and patina. The most noticeable finish loss is on the barrel. There are some scattered areas of dark discoloration from previous oxidation, light scabs, and areas of minor erosion. There are areas of scratching from abrasive cleaning. There are some nicks and dings into the metal. There is mottled discoloration. There are scattered light handling marks. There is a thick turn line on the cylinder. The screwheads display tool marks. The markings are mostly clear, some on the top of the barrel have worn away. Overall, this revolver is in about Good condition as an Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup has some side-to-side movement. 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. With such a strong and well liked design, it only made sense to use them as cartridge firing revolvers once self-contained ammunition became popular. This one is a nice cartridge model with the Rollin White patent date on the side of the cylinder. It is a great find for collectors of antiques and Remingtons especially. Please see our photos and good luck!