Starr Arms Co. Single Action Army .44 Cal 8” Revolver Antique US Civil War
SOLD FOR: $1,125.00
LSB#: LSB250806TR002
Make: Starr Arms Co., New York
Model: Single Action Army Revolver (Model 1863)
Serial Number: 37694 (Matching)
Year of Manufacture: Circa 1864–1865 (Antique)
Caliber: .44 Caliber Percussion
Action Type: Single Action Percussion Revolver, Six-Shot Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the frame is marked “STARR ARMS CO. NEW YORK,” while the right side bears “STARR’S PATENT JAN. 15. 1856.” The serial number “37694” appears on the frame, cylinder, and under the barrel, all matching. Multiple “M” sub-inspection stamps are visible on the frame, cylinder, and barrel flat. These are U.S. Ordnance Department sub-inspector markings attributed to Henry Martyn, who inspected Starr revolvers under federal contract during the Civil War.
Barrel Length: 8”
Sights / Optics: The revolver is equipped with a front blade sight and a simple notch rear sight cut into the hammer nose.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The one-piece walnut grip shows honest service wear and smooth age patina, consistent with Civil War use. It has minor flattening at the butt and small dings throughout but retains its solid structure with no major cracks or repairs. A faint and partially legible U.S. Army Ordnance Cartouche on the left side of the grip is present.
Type of Finish: Originally blued, now exhibiting a uniform gray-brown patina with mottled oxidation and age toning typical of mid-war service arms.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with defined rifling and scattered pitting, rating 7/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains approximately 15% of its original finish, now turned to a smooth, even patina over metal surfaces. The edges remain generally strong, with moderate oxidation and handling wear present throughout. All factory markings are legible, and the matching serial numbers confirm this as an unaltered, factory-mated example. The revolver shows the honest character of a U.S.-issued sidearm from the latter half of the Civil War.
Mechanics: The revolver’s hammer, trigger, and cylinder rotation all function properly. The single-action mechanism locks securely at full cock, and the indexing aligns properly. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment:
The Starr Arms Co. Single Action Army Revolver represents one of the final evolutions of percussion service sidearms used by the Union during the American Civil War. After the U.S. Ordnance Department found Starr’s earlier double-action revolvers overly complex for field maintenance, Starr simplified his design into this robust single-action model, securing a major 1863 contract that produced roughly 25,000 revolvers for the Union cavalry.
Chambered in .44 caliber with an 8-inch barrel, the Starr Single Action was a solid-frame alternative to the Colt 1860 Army and Remington New Model Army revolvers. While it never achieved their popularity, Starr revolvers were known for their ruggedness and accuracy. Many saw issues in the Western and Trans-Mississippi theaters, with surviving examples often displaying “M” sub-inspection marks from Ordnance officer Henry Martyn — as seen on this revolver — confirming its government acceptance.
With matching serials, sharp markings, and an untouched wartime patina, this revolver offers a tangible connection to the Union’s late-war armament efforts. Surviving Starr Single Actions are widely referenced in Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms and The Civil War Revolver by John D. McAulay, both of which note their relative scarcity compared to contemporary Colt or Remington models. This example stands as an authentic, inspector-marked artifact of the industrial ingenuity that armed the Union cavalry in the closing years of America’s defining conflict.
We are no longer offering layaway. KF
