Colt Model 1860 Army .44 Cal 8” Percussion Revolver 1863 Antique Civil War
SOLD FOR: $1,175.00
LSB#: LSB250729TC103
Make: Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company
Model: 1860 Army
Serial Number: 136171 (All matching except wedge, which is an unnumbered replacement)
Year of Manufacture: 1863 (per Colt factory serialization records; numbers 134,000–138,000 correspond to 1863 production) Antique
Caliber: .44 Caliber Cap and Ball
Action Type: Single Action Percussion Revolver, Six-Shot Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the frame is marked “COLT’S / PATENT.” The cylinder is roll-marked “COLT’S PATENT / No. 136171” and “PATENTED SEPT. 10TH 1850,” with remnants of the naval battle scene still visible under aged patina. The brass trigger guard is marked “H” behind the trigger. Matching serial number “136171” appears on the frame, barrel lug, trigger guard, and buttstrap, with the same number faintly present on the arbor. The wedge is an unnumbered replacement.
Barrel Length: 8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a German silver blade fixed to the barrel. The top of the barrel shows a long, shallow trough, a characteristic sighting plane machined along the top.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The one-piece walnut grip shows a light cartouche on the left panel and a small crack near the wrist where the wood meets the brass frame. The surface displays honest handling marks and small dents typical of field-carried examples. The fit remains tight, and the aged varnish has mellowed to a dark brown tone.
Type of Finish: Originally blued barrel and cylinder, casehardened frame, and brass grip frame. The revolver now shows an even gray-brown patina throughout, with traces of the original finish in protected areas.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore shows defined rifling with scattered erosion. In this writer’s opinion, it rates 6/10 for its age and originality.
Overall Condition: Retains a conservative amount of original finish (largely faded to patina) and honest surface wear. The cylinder scene is worn but identifiable. Matching serials on all major parts except the wedge; arbor numbered to the gun. The barrel assembly is not secure due to a loose replacement wedge, and the front latch that retains the under-barrel loader/ball seater is also loose and currently unreliable. These issues reduce the functional security of the barrel/forearm assembly until addressed. Approximate overall finish retained: small percentage; firearm described as service-worn but original.
Mechanics: Hammer and trigger operate; cylinder indexes and rotates though there is perceptible play. The replacement wedge is loose and does not fully lock the barrel to the frame. The front latch that secures the loader/ball-seater under the barrel is loose and unreliable at present and should be repaired or replaced to ensure the loading assembly is retained safely. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment:
The Colt Model 1860 Army stands as one of the most iconic revolvers of the American Civil War era. Introduced at the dawn of conflict, its streamlined design—adapting the 1851 Navy’s frame to the larger .44 caliber—offered greater power while retaining Colt’s characteristic balance and grace. This example, serial number 136171, was produced in 1863, a year when Colt’s Hartford factory was operating at peak wartime output to supply Union cavalry and artillery units.
The Model 1860’s roll-engraved naval battle cylinder scene, drawn by Waterman Ormsby, was both a patriotic flourish and a distinctive Colt trademark. Even as the bluing and case colors have faded, the revolver’s profile speaks unmistakably of the era. The long barrel, rebated cylinder, and brass grip frame reflect Colt’s elegant engineering solutions to the challenges of large-bore sidearms. The “H” inspector’s mark and cartouched grip link this revolver directly to wartime government contracts, with surviving examples often associated with cavalry regiments and officers who carried them through campaigns from Gettysburg to Vicksburg.
As documented in William B. Edwards’ The Story of Colt’s Revolver and Charles Pate’s U.S. Handguns of World War II and the Civil War Era, these pistols were both weapons and status symbols—symbols of industrial precision at a time when the nation’s fate was uncertain. This 1863 Colt remains a tangible artifact of that defining period. Its matching numbers, legible legends, and original patina tell the story of use, survival, and preservation over more than 160 years—qualities that collectors rightly value in genuine, unaltered Civil War arms.
KF
