Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of a rare civil war percussion pistol, produced to compete with the popular Colt and Remington "Army" revolvers in .44 caliber. With the large Colt factory fire in February 1864, there was suddenly an opportunity for the smaller makers to capture some of the wartime market. One of these was Hoard's Armory in Watertown, N.Y., who manufactured pistols based on a patent held by Austin T. Freeman. This design resembled both the Remington and Star percussion revolvers of the time.

Most notable is the interesting method of securing and removing the cylinder: a small switch on the right side that when pressed forward allows the cylinder and pin to fall out to the right. Total production of these revolvers is only estimated at 2,000 units, making every example rare. No contracts are known to have been issued to Hoard's Armory by the Federal Government. However, some may have been purchased and issued by state governments, and others were no doubt purchased privately and carried by soldiers.

This example is in lovely condition, looking to possibly have had the finish touched up at some time during the 20th century. The top of the frame over the cylinder still has the original markings, which are mostly clear:

This example looks to have been made early in production, and is marked with serial number 331 on the rear of the cylinder, on the grip frame, and on the inside of both grip scales. The barrel however is marked with number 784, so it looks like it was swapped out at some point, definitely typical for firearms at a state arsenal.

Overall condition is good with a lovely blue gray finish overall, looking to have had the finish touched up at some point. There does not appear to be any past major oxidation or other rust issues, indicating that the revolver was well cared for, though it definitely does look to have seen a good amount of service. The walnut grips show staining and wear, with some missing wood on the front toe of both sides, however there are no major cracks or other catastrophic damage.

The revolver functions beautifully, with a strong smooth action and a strong mainspring. It indexes correctly with a solid cylinder lockup, and a crisp dry fire. We have not noticed any of the usual "finicky" behavior of the action on this revolver. The loading rammer is functional, and the cylinder release works well, though the retaining spring is a bit sprung, making it very easy to accidently unlatch it. The bore still shows clear rifling but is definitely worn, with signs of past fouling and oxidation having been cleaned away. The cap nipples are all clear and in very good condition, showing some powder burn on the exterior, but no major damage or mushrooming from hammer strikes.

A lovely example of a hard to find U.S. Civil War Percussion Revolver, the only example that we have ever had! Ready to research and display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1863-64
Caliber: .44cal
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 7 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 12 1/4 inches
Action: Single
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.