{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-remington-new-model-1863-army-44-rimfire-converted-revolver-with-period-holster-and-3-inert-cartridges-serial-49255","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Remington New Model 1863 Army .44 Rimfire Converted Revolver with Period Holster and 3 Inert Cartridges - Serial 49255","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. The first Cartridge Single Action Colts and Remington revolvers came out in 1873 and 1875. Prior to that there were many different \"cartridge systems\" utilized by many different makers. However Civil War percussion Revolvers were everywhere on the market and Gunsmiths converted many of these Civil War Revolvers to the new Breech loading systems, many using factory supplied parts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is just such a weapon, originally made towards the end of the Civil War, and then was converted to take a metallic cartridge. In very good service worn condition, these conversions tend to be rather rare as the window of demand was very limited and by 1873 and 1875 the new \"Cowboy\" guns were on open sale. The truth is many Desperadoes and law abiding citizens embarked ion there trek to the West Coast carrying a converted revolver like this. This lovely example comes complete with an original period leather holster, which is in very good shape, and typical of the type used during the civil war and afterwards. There are even three original \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003einert\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e .44 rimfire cartridges included, marked \u003cstrong\u003eU\u003c\/strong\u003e on the bottom for the Union Metallic Cartridge Company.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Remington Percussion revolvers 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. This is definitely a Remington New Model 1863, however the markings on the top of the barrel were completely removed, and now we can see what looks like writing with an engraving pen going from the frame to about half way down the barrel. This is now very faint, so possibly someone tried to remove it as well, and we cannot make out what it says at all. We noted that while the bottom and sides of the barrel still show some of the original finish, the top three facets are missing it almost completely, except near the front sight. Definitely some interesting history to this revolver!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall condition is good, and it looks like parts of the revolver may have been refinished when it was converted to centerfire. It looks like it was not really buffed before it was refinished, so the original serial number and single letter markings are preserved. It is also possible that this is still the original finish. The grips are in very good condition, showing little damage, and look to have been cleaned on the outside a bit, so they could probably use a good treatment with gun stock wax.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe action functions very well well, with a firm cylinder lockup, accurate indexing and crisp dry fire. There is not any of the finicky behavior we often see on revolvers from this era. The hammer has a proper loading position, and is really quite tight. It does not look to have seen a large amount of use when it was still in percussion. The bore shows crisp lands and grooves with a mostly bright finish. There is a bit of past oxidation and fouling, but for a percussion era revolver, this is a really great bore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis revolver has matching serial numbers, with \u003cstrong\u003e49255\u003c\/strong\u003e appearing on the underside of the barrel and on the frame under the grip. Both grip scales are also marked with the number in pencil, which we believe to be the original markings. There is even a clear \"boxed\" script BH cartouche on the left grip, for inspector Benjamin Hannis, noted for inspecting \"Allen \u0026amp; Wheelock, Colt M1860, Remington Elliott, Savage Figure 8, and Starr Revolvers\" during the war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResearch shows that this revolver was manufactured in late 1863, making this a true Civil War gun that was later modified for the frontier. Production had begun around serial number 15,000 in 1863. According to the research published in \u003cem\u003eRemington Army \u0026amp; Navy Revolvers 1861-1868\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere were several types of conversions, and this one looks to possibly have used an original cylinder, which had the rear machined off, removing the cap nipple cones. Then a new piece was added and pressed in, possibly with some type of further attachment. It looks like the entire outside of the cylinder was milled a bit, so unfortunately there is not much more we can tell about it. The original hammer was altered slightly in shape so that it would contact the back of the cylinder on both sides of the rim, ensuring a solid ignition of the cartridge. This type of conversion was was relatively easy due to the arbor pin design. It also means that minimal adjustments were needed to the barrel and other components. There is no ejector, and the loading rammer is still intact, though now serves no purpose. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely rimfire converted Civil War gun, as used on the American Frontier, complete with a period holster and some original cartridges! This will make a fine addition to any \"Old West\" Americana collection. Ready to display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: late 1863 - converted later\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .44 Remington\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 8 inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 14 inches\u003cbr\u003eAction: Single\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 6 Shot Revolver\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory of Remington New Model Army Revolver:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemington, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWilliam F. \"Buffalo Bill\" Cody used an ivory-handled New Model Army .44, serial number 73,293, from 1863 until 1906, when he gave it to his ranch foreman with a handwritten note which said that, \"It never failed me.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43270485409861,"sku":"ONJR25JUGCW18","price":2295.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR25JUGCW18__01.jpg?v=1754068048","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-remington-new-model-1863-army-44-rimfire-converted-revolver-with-period-holster-and-3-inert-cartridges-serial-49255","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}