Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a very compelling historical piece: a "Battlefield Pickup" condition example of a Remington New Model Army Percussion Revolver. This was apparently found at some point after the battle had ended, and unfortunately we do not know exactly where it came from. It was well rusted when we received it, and we have cleaned that off to some degree, while trying to preserve the great "battlefield pickup" patina it has.

Like all New Models, it is a .44 caliber percussion, 6 shot single action revolver, with an 8-inch octagon barrel. These were often called the Model 1858 due to the patent dates, but production of this revision started in 1863, and the "New Model Army" is the correct designation from Remington. Due to wear, all of the markings on the metalwork are missing, except for serial number 17609 on on the frame under the grips. It has the correct "safety slots" on the cylinder, so combined with the serial number we know it is a "New Model" 1863, and not the "Old Model".

When we received this, it was totally non functional, however when it was freed up we found that the action actually was still working, with the only part missing being the main spring. We have fitted a replacement, which can sometimes slip out of place, so we do not recommend cycling the revolver very much. When we removed the cylinder arbor pin, previous attempts to remove it had twisted it somewhat, but it still can be removed with some assistance from a hammer, allowing the barrel to be examined, which amazingly shows relatively good rifling. When we received it we also noted that four cylinder were full of dirt, but this was actually incorrect: they were still loaded. We were able to successfully remove the bullets and charges, and three of the bullets came out intact and ARE INCLUDED with this lovely display piece!

The grip scales are in much better condition than the rest of the revolver, and we had assumed that they might have been replacements, but once we got them off, it was clear that they were almost certainly original, with lots of rust staining on the interior, as well as scale rust worked right into the grain of the wood. We cleaned off as much as we could, and the left grip actually still shows a faint inspectors cartouche. Overall condition is well rusted, but amazingly it still is mostly functional.

Research shows that this revolver was manufactured in early 1863, making this a true Civil War gun and perfect for any collection. Production had begun around serial number 15,000 in 1863. According to the research published in Remington Army & Navy Revolvers 1861-1868 by Donald L. Ware, Remington revolvers through serial #149,000 were accepted prior to the end of the Civil War. Guns below serial #123,000 were accepted prior to the end of 1864. This is one of the earliest examples of a "New Model" that we have seen.

A wonderful "battlefield pickup" example, this revolver will make a fine addition to any U.S. Civil War collection. Ready to display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: early 1863
Caliber: .44cal
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 8 inches
Overall Length: 14 inches
Action: Single
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

History of Remington New Model Army Revolver:

Remington, like Colt, was in business of arms making long prior to the Civil War. They had been producing handguns since 1857 when they introduced the Remington Beals Pocket Revolver. With the outbreak of the Civil War all of the company's energy became devoted to the military production of longarms and hand guns. The martial hand guns produced during the Civil War period included the Remington-Beals Army and Navy Model revolvers, the Remington Models 1861 Army and Navy Revolvers, (a.k.a. as the "Old Model Army" and "Old Model Navy") and the Remington New Model 1863 Army and Navy revolvers.

The Remington New Model 1863 Army Revolver represents Remington's highest production martial pistol. Approximately 126,000 were manufactured from 1863 to 1875. After Colt, it was the Northern government's most purchased and issued pistol. Serial numbers of the New Model Army continued from the Model 1861 Army. Reference sources estimate this change from between serial number 15000 (Flayderman) to 22000 (Reilly). This is probably due to a long transitional period in which there was a gradual change over of the design features between the two models. The earliest production models utilized the 1861 frames and had a somewhat longer grip. The stamping "New Model" on the barrel of the early models can also be noted to have been stamped with a separate die. Nearly 110, 000 New Models were purchased by the government during the Civil War, at prices between $10.82 and $15.50 each. These prices were lower than Colt's and by mid-1863, Colt was eliminated from the government contract business. The State of New Jersey also purchased several thousand for Civil War issue.

The New Model 1863 Army was the last of Remington's .44 caliber percussion revolvers. Remington Armies were used from the beginning to the end of the Civil War in all fields. They were considered to be among the finest martial handguns of the day. The Remington New Model 1863 Navy and it's forbear, the Remington-Beals Navy, also saw action during the war.

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