Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice well-patinated service used condition example of the Savage Navy Model, a six shot .36 caliber revolver, which was made 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 released it forward to cock the hammer and rotate the cylinder.

This is a very nice early example, manufactured in mid-late 1861, made towards the middle of the first half of production. It bears serial number 6462, which is neatly stamped on the underside of barrel and on the right side of the frame under the grip. The markings on the grip scales are no longer visible, and the back of the cylinder is oxidized, so we cannot see any serial numbers there.

The pistol shows light peppering overall, which has unfortunately made the stamping on top of the frame faint, and only the right side can really be read with a magnifier:

Overall the pistol is in nice condition, with an overall peppery patina on the metalwork, with no signs of major cleaning or restoration. It's got a great "barn find" or "attic find" look, which we have for the most part left intact. We disassembled the revolver to get some of the gunk out of the action and to lubricate it, but little more. It functions almost perfectly, with crisp indexing and a strong cylinder lockup. It just is a bit "slow" due to old grease and oxidation still in the works. The cylinder chambers are in good shape, and all 6 cap nipples are still intact, which is rare due to the strong hammer strike the pistol has. They do however show oxidation and wear from use.

The bore is actually still in fairly good condition, showing clear rifling, but also wear and oxidation. We usually see these looking like stovepipes, so this is definitely better than average. The original grips are in good shape, showing only a light wear and a great color, with no cracking or major damage we can see. They do show some oxidation staining where they are close to the metalwork, so there was some level of water exposure over a long period of time.

These are always hard to find, so now is your chance! Ready to add to your civil war collection and display!

Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: c.1862
Caliber: .36cal
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 7 inches
Overall Length: 14 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

History of the Savage 1861 Model .36 Cal-

The Union purchased just fewer than 12,000 of these initially at $19.00 apiece for use by its cavalry units. Savage Navy revolvers were issued to the 1st and 2nd Wisconsin U.S. Volunteer Cavalry regiments, and 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry while the State of Missouri issued 292 Savage revolvers to its Missouri Enrolled Militia units.

The remaining revolvers were purchased by private means and shipped to the Confederacy for use with the 34th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry (Witcher's Nighthawks), the 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry (White's Rebels), 11th Texas Cavalry, 7th Virginia Cavalry (Ashby's Cavalry), and 7th Missouri Cavalry. The United States Navy also made a small purchase of 800 Savages during 1861 for use on its ships.

The Savage-North revolver is a direct descendant of the Savage & North Figure 8 Model Revolver and the Alsop revolver sharing many similarities with both arms. Alsop was also located in Middletown, CT. and three members of the Alsop family served on the Savage Revolving Firearms Company board of directors. Therefore, the relationship between the two companies and the two weapons was more than coincidental.

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.