Colt, Remington New Model and Old Model
Army, Starr, and Savage Navy revolvers from my personal
collection
Starr Model 1858 Double Action .36
Caliber Navy Revolver, made in 1859
The Model 1858 Starr Navy revolver which was manufactured
during 1859 thru 1860, is the rarest of the Starr's with a total
production of only 3,000. The Federal government made an initial
purchase of 1,000 of these revolvers for $20 apiece during October
and November 1861 while the State of Ohio purchased 500 revolvers
for the same price. The Ordnance Department and various Military
Districts purchased the bulk of the remaining guns throughout early
1862. The small caliber and the inherent problems associated with
the early double action design met with almost immediate disfavor
from the military and forced Starr to redesign their firearm to one
of a larger caliber and a more reliable single action.
Starr Model 1858 Double Action Army
Revolver, .44 caliber
16,100 .44 caliber Starr Model 1858 DA Army revolvers were
delivered to the United States military between January, 1862 and
May, 1863 at $25.00 per revolver. This model actually uses dual
triggers to allow the shooter to fire the weapon without first
pulling the hammer back by hand. The front trigger cocks the hammer
and rotates the cylinder. There is an adjustable lug attached to
the rear side of the front trigger that engages the rear trigger
which is located in the rear of the trigger-guard which in turn,
releases the hammer. The Model 1858 with its rather novel double
action unfortunately was a design whose time had not yet come and
was prone to breakage due to the more intricate design over the
single action revolvers. There is the story that is more than
likely anecdotal, that a certain Union officer was known to have
stated that the person who signed the government contract for the
Starr 1858 double actions revolvers, should of been hanged for
treason. The Army eventually replaced this model with the simpler
single actions such as the Starr Model 1863, Colt 1860 Army,
Remington New Model Army, or a host of other lesser known
revolvers. While the Union military may of held the Starr DA in an
unfavorable light, there is evidence that is was favored by some in
the South. The following excerpt was taken from DeBow's Review,
April 1861, Volume 30, Issue 4, pp. 505-506: "The proprietors have
placed in our hands a self cocking hair trigger revolver, which is
one of the simplest, cheapest and most powerful instruments of
defense with which we have met. The agent for New Orleans is O. S.
Jennings, 20 Camp Street. Our contemporary of the 'Crescent' says
most truthfully of the weapon: 'Starr's revolvers - We made a trial
with one of these pistols a few days since, and must acknowledge
that we were agreeable surprised by its great range and accuracy.
Without being heavier than is desirable for a serviceable
belt-pistol, they carry a sufficiently heavy ball to be effective,
and, in the hands of a good marksman, a man could be brought down
every time at from one hundred to one hundred fifty yards. The
trial we made convinced us of this, and further, that they possess
all the advantages of the Colt army and navy revolver, with
additional ones of being better adapted for quick shooting, and
having conveniences for cleaning and keeping in order what in
active service will render them less liable to damage. Military
companies, about supplying themselves with side arms, could do no
better than choose this pistol.'"
Starr Model 1863 Single Action Army
Revolver, .44 caliber, made in 1863
The Starr Model 1863 Single Action Army was the third most
widely issued handgun of the Civil War and was issued to Union
forces from December 1863 until December 1864 with a total of
25,000 revolvers that cost the government $12.00 apiece. The Starr
was a six-shot, .44 caliber handgun that was issued mainly to
cavalry units. This particular Starr's serial number in the 29,300
range falls in the block of serial numbers of Starrs issued to the
7th Michigan Cavalry that was part of Custer's Michigan Wolverine
Brigade.
Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver, .44
caliber, made in 1863
The Colt Model 1860 Army was the most widely manufactured
sidearm of the Civil War and was made from 1860 until 1873 with a
total production of over 200,000 revolvers. During the 4 year Civil
War over 127,000 Model 1860's were issued at a cost to the
government of $13.75 apiece making this six-shot, .44 caliber
handgun very popular with soldiers of both the Union and
Confederacy.
Remington 1861 Army Revolver, also known
as the Old Model Army, .44 caliber, six shot, made in
1862
This is a scarcer version of the Remington Army revolvers
with varying estimates of 6,000 to just under 10,000 Old Models
being produced. The Old Model Army serial numbers starts at where
the Remington-Beals Army model ended at approximately number 1,900
and runs up to around number 10,000, where the more common
"Transition" models of the Old Model Army begin. The serial number
of this particular revolver is in the 2,100 range. The easiest Way
to distinguish an Old Model Army from the "Transition" model and
the subsequent New Model Army is the two-line barrel legend that is
stamped "PATENTED DEC. 17, 1861/MANUFACTURED BY REMINGTON'S ILION,
N.Y.," the dovetailed German-silver front sight, the longer hammer
spur, and the channel cut along the top of the loading lever to
allow removal of the cylinder without dropping the lever. The
"Transition" models will have an Old Army barrel legend but a New
Model short spur hammer, or New Model non-channeled loading lever,
or a new model threaded bead sight, or safety notches on the
cylinder shoulder between the nipples, or a combination of all.
Almost 100% production of the Model 1861's went to fill U.S.
Government orders.
Remington New Model Army Revolver, .44
caliber, made in 1863
The Remington New Model Army was the second most widely
issued handgun of the Civil War and was manufactured from 1863
until 1875 with a total production of just over 100,000 revolvers.
The New Model Army had a barrel legend that read "PATENTED SEPT.
14, 1858/E. REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, N.Y. U.S.A./NEW MODEL." It
also had a screw in type brass bead front sight; a non-channeled
loading lever so the lever had to be dropped before the center pin
and cylinder could be removed; a shorter hammer spur so soldiers
with small hands couuld cock the hammer; and safety notches on the
rear cylinder shoulder between each nipple, making it slightly
different than its predecessor, the Old Model Army. Like the Colt,
this was a six-shot, .44 caliber handgun but many considered the
Remington with its solid frame, a sturdier handgun and one where
the cylinders could be changed easier and faster than that of the
Colt's.
Savage 1861 Navy Model, .36 caliber, made
in 1861
The Savage Navy Model, a six shot .36 caliber revolver, was
made only from 1861 until 1862 with a total production of only
20,000 guns. This unique military revolver was one of the few
handguns that was produced only for Civil War use. Its design was
based on the antebellum Savage-North "figure eight" revolver. The
Savage Navy had a unique way of cocking the hammer. The shooter
used his middle finger to draw back the "figure 8" lever and then
pushed it forward to cock the hammer and rotate the cylinder. The
Union purchased just under 12,000 of these initially at $19.00
apiece for use by cavalry units while many of the remainder were
purchased by private means and shipped to the Confederacy for use
by its cavalry. The United States Navy also made a small purchase
of 800 Savages during 1861 for use on its ships.
