Original Item. One Only. This is a great condition Civil War Star Arms Model 1858 Double Action Army Percussion revolver, bearing the serial number of 16359, indicating production in late 1862. This revolver was made about 75% through a production run of around 21,500 revolvers, delivered to the U.S. Army 1862-1863. After this, starting at serial number 23,000, they moved to the requested Single Action Model of 1863, which cost HALF of what the earlier model did. This model also replaced the 6 inch barrel with a longer 8 inch barrel.

All of the variations of the Starr Revolver carried six cartridges in the chambers. Our example has the serial number 16359 on the trigger guard under the grip, the rear grip support, the barrel frame, the barrel under the rammer, the end of the grip, and on the underside of the hammer. It also has the serial number marked on the frame UNDER the hammer, which is almost always worn away! The markings are all still crisp as well! The cylinder is the only non-matching part, marked with 14536, which makes this a very nice "Mostly Matching" revolver.

Other Markings include-

- STARR ARMS, Co. NEW. YORK. found on left side of frame.
- STARR'S PATENT JAN 16. 1856. found on right side of frame.

These markings are crisp as well, and we also noted that much of the original deep blued finish is still present, as is the case-hardening on other components, which we almost NEVER see! The bore is excellent as well, probably the best we have ever seen! This indicates that it saw very little use in service, and that appears to be because it does not really work correctly due to some mechanical error that surfaced soon after it was put into service. The lifting lever (front trigger) top runs into the cylinder before it can move all the way back, and even with the cylinder out does not move back enough to fire the rear trigger. We can kind of get it to work in single action, but for the most part, it is mostly a display piece, or something for an expert on Starr Revolver internals to put right.

That said, it's a great piece, and would look wonderful as part of any Civil War collection. It shows no signs of having been refurbished at any time, so it is ALL ORIGINAL patina. The grip is in very good condition, with a very nice color, with some chips and dents around the bottom edge, as is common. It still has a legible cartouche on the both sides of the grip, a real rarity! It is marked with boxed CSL cartouches on both sides, for ordnance inspector Maj. Charles S. Lowell, U.S. Army, noted for inspecting Starr D.A. .44 and M1860 .44 Colt Revolvers 1858-1863. The same cartouche on both sides of the grip is not common, as usually one is the mark of the sub-inspector, and the other from the accepting Ordnance Department officer or official. Definitely some nice research potential here!

The barrel still has the correct "blade" front sight in the dovetail, which is still intact with light wear. The bore is in excellent condition, probably rating close to a 10 out of 10. It has a bright finish, crisp lands and grooves, and the machining marks are still visible. There is just a bit of dirt and fouling in the grooves. The cylinder still has all 6 original cap nipple cones, all of which are still clear, and show little to no sign of use. The revolver properly breaks down for cleaning, and the loading rammer works as well.

The issues with the action aside, we almost never see Starr Revolvers in such great cosmetic condition. Ready to adjust and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: late 1862
Caliber: .44cal
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 6 inches
Overall Length: 12 inches
Action: Double Action Only
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

More on the Starr Percussion Revolver:

Generally there are three models of Starr revolvers:

1863 Single Action .44 Caliber Percussion Army Revolver (produced 1863-1864) [23000 produced]

1858 Double Action .36 Caliber Percussion Navy Revolver (produced 1859-1860) [3000 produced]

1858 Double Action .44 Caliber Percussion Army Revolver (produced 1862-1863) [~21454 produced]

History of the STARR ARMS COMPANY Revolver-

About 23,000 double-action Starr revolvers were manufactured in the late 1850s and early 1860s. Of these, most were purchased by the U.S. Army. Starr revolvers, in both single-and double-action models, represented over 12 percent of the side arms issued to Union cavalry troops. Only Colt and Remington revolvers were more frequently encountered in the hands of Northern soldiers.

Starr revolvers were invented by Eben Townsend Starr of New York City, grandson of Nathan Starr and son of Nathan Starr, Jr., famous U. S. swordmakers and riflemakers of Middletown, Connecticut. This model is marked on the right side of its frame "STARR'S PATENT JAN. 15, 1856.", and on the left side, "STARR. ARMS. Co. NEW YORK." The patent date refers to E. T. Starr's U. S. Patent 14,118 for a self-cocking percussion pepperbox. His U.S. Patent 30,843, December 4, 1860, was for his double-action revolver.

Starr firearms were made at Yonkers, Binghamton, and Morrisania, New York, from 1858 to 1867. The New York City address referred to the Starr Arms Company store and office at 267 Broadway. Starr double-action .44 caliber revolvers, with serial numbers from 1 to about 23,000, were manufactured first, and Starr single-action .44 caliber revolvers, with serial numbers from about 23,000 to about 54,000, last.

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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.

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