{"product_id":"original-u-s-colt-model-1860-army-44-caliber-percussion-revolver-with-replica-barrel-and-replaced-parts-serial-no-159582-1866-made-components","title":"Original U.S. Colt Model 1860 Army .44 Caliber Percussion Revolver with Replica Barrel and Replaced Parts, Serial No. 159582, 1866 Made Components","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Colt Model 1860 Army .44 caliber percussion revolver assembled from a mixture of original and replacement parts, including an original trigger guard and grip frame numbered \u003cstrong\u003e159582\u003c\/strong\u003e, a nonmatching original style cylinder, an original frame that appears to have been renumbered, and a modern replica barrel. Components numbered \u003cstrong\u003e159582\u003c\/strong\u003e date to \u003cstrong\u003e1866\u003c\/strong\u003e production, placing the surviving original parts immediately after the Civil War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Colt Model 1860 Army was a six shot .44 caliber percussion revolver with an 8\" barrel and round rebated cylinder. This example has seen extensive service and repair and should be regarded as a composite revolver rather than an intact matching specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trigger guard and grip frame are both marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e159582\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eplacing those components within Colt production from \u003cstrong\u003e1866\u003c\/strong\u003e. The frame is also marked \u003cstrong\u003e159582\u003c\/strong\u003e, but the number appears to have been applied later so that it would correspond with the replacement configuration. The frame itself appears to be original Colt manufacture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cylinder is nonmatching and carries the partial serial number:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e8372\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cylinder arbor is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0069\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eand the barrel wedge is an unmarked replacement. The currently installed 8\" barrel is a modern replica and does not carry original Colt address or factory markings, just an added \u003cstrong\u003e159582\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e serial number.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side of the original frame retains a clear:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLTS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePATENT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003emarking. The left side of the trigger guard still shows:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e44 CAL\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ethough the marking is worn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe replacement cylinder retains much of its original roll engraved \u003cstrong\u003e\"Naval Engagement Scene\"\u003c\/strong\u003e, with approximately 80% of the scene still visible. The adjacent:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLT'S PATENT №\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003emarking is also largely legible, which is better retention than is often encountered on heavily used Model 1860 cylinders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver has an overall aged gray and peppered patina. The original frame and hammer show substantial evidence of old oxidation, water staining, and pitting that has since been cleaned. The surface damage remains plainly visible and documents the revolver’s long service and storage history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe walnut grip is in good service used condition with substantial handling and cleaning wear. Both front toes have lost wood and have become rounded from wear and material loss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMechanically, the revolver is not fully functional. The hand and cylinder ratchet do not operate consistently. With the muzzle pointed downward, the action will cycle through approximately five of the six chambers before binding on the sixth. When the revolver is held level or in other positions, the cylinder tends to bind on each chamber. This is an important mechanical deficiency.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver still disassembles correctly with removal of the barrel wedge, and the barrel to frame connection remains solid in its present configuration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bore of the modern replacement barrel is in excellent condition, with a bright interior, crisp lands and grooves, and only light evidence of fouling or oxidation. All six percussion nipples are present and clear and appear to be relatively recent replacements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its surviving 1866 numbered Colt trigger guard and grip frame, original Colt frame, nonmatching cylinder with well retained Naval Engagement Scene, modern replica barrel, replaced nipples, and extensive evidence of later repair and rebuilding, this is an interesting composite Model 1860 Army revolver. The renumbered frame, nonmatching cylinder and arbor, replica barrel, replacement wedge, replacement nipples, severe action timing and binding issue, cleaned pitting, and grip wood loss are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Colt Model 1860, post Civil War, restoration study, or advanced percussion revolver collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1866\u003cbr\u003eManufacturer: Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company\u003cbr\u003eModel: 1860 Army\u003cbr\u003eSerial No.: 159582\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .44cal\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Percussion Cap and Ball\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 8 inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 14 inches\u003cbr\u003eAction: Single\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 6 Shot Revolver\u003cbr\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eColt Army Model 1860\u003c\/strong\u003e is a muzzle-loaded cap \u0026amp; ball .44-caliber revolver used during the American Civil War made by Colt's Manufacturing Company. It was used as a side arm by cavalry, infantry, artillery troops, and naval forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Colt 1860 Army uses the same size frame as the .36 caliber 1851 Navy revolver. The frame is relieved to allow the use of a rebated cylinder that enables the Army to be chambered in .44 caliber. the barrel on the 1860 Army has a forcing cone that is visibly shorter than that of the 1851 Navy, allowing the Army revolver to have a longer cylinder. Another distinguishing feature of the Colt 1860 Army, first introduced on the Colt 1855 Sidehammer Revolver, is the \"creeping\" loading lever.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore than 200,000 were manufactured from 1860 through 1873. Colt's biggest customer was the US Government with no less than 129,730 units being purchased and issued to the troops. The weapon was a single-action, six-shot weapon accurate up to 75 to 100 yards, where the fixed sights were typically set when manufactured. The rear sight was a notch in the hammer, only usable when the revolver was fully cocked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Colt .44-caliber \"Army\" Model was the most widely used revolver of the Civil War. It had a six-shot, rotating cylinder, and fired a 0.454-inch-diameter (11.5 mm) round spherical lead ball, or a conical-tipped bullet, typically propelled by a 30-grain charge of black powder, which was ignited by a small copper percussion cap that contained a volatile charge of fulminate of mercury (a substance that explodes upon being subjected to a sharp impact). The percussion cap, when struck by the hammer, ignited the powder charge. When fired, balls had a muzzle velocity of about 900 feet per second (274 meters\/second), although this depended on how much powder one loaded it with.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe unfluted cylinder was 'rebated,' meaning that the rear of the cylinder was turned to a smaller diameter than the front. The barrel was rounded and smoothed into the frame, as was the Navy Model. The frame, hammer, and rammer lever were case-hardened, the remainder blued; grips were of one-piece walnut; and the trigger guard and front grip strap were of brass while the backstrap was blued.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA distinguishing feature of the Model 1860 was that its frame had no top strap, or no component running above the cylinder. Instead, its strength came from the lower frame and the massive fixed cylinder pin. This made the gun slimmer and lighter than its main competitor, the Remington Model 1858, but with a possible loss of strength. The fixed cylinder pin also meant that the barrel had to be removed in order to remove the cylinder, unlike the Model 1858, which only required you to remove the cylinder retaining pin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistory\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy April 1861, 2,230 of Colt's earliest production went to dealers south of the Mason-Dixon line. The United States Navy ordered 900 fluted cylinder revolvers in May 1861 later issued to ships enforcing the Atlantic and Gulf blockade. United States Army orders also began in May, and 127,157 had been delivered before a 5 October 1864 fire put Colt's factory out of operation for the duration of hostilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOperation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLoading is a somewhat lengthy process, with each of the six chambers drilled into the revolving cylinder being loaded from the front, or \"muzzle\" end. A measured amount of black powder is poured into a chamber. Next a lead ball is placed at the opening of the chamber and seated by firmly pressing it in with the pivoting loading lever which is attached beneath the barrel of the revolver. For sealing each chamber, an over-size 0.454-inch-diameter (11.5 mm) lead ball is trimmed slightly by the rim of the chamber as the rammer forces it inside. Cap and ball shooters also often place a lubricated wad between balls and powder, or, alternatively, pack lard or a commercially-sold bore lubricant at the mouth of each chamber in an attempt to prevent powder in an adjacent chamber from being ignited by when the gun is fired, which is known as a chainfire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the Colt Model 1860 was used by 19th century soldiers, they most often loaded the gun using paper cartridges. These cartridges consisted of a pre-measured load of black powder and a ball, wrapped in nitrated paper (paper that had been soaked in potassium nitrate and then dried, to make it more flammable). To load each chamber, one only had to slip the cartridge into the front of the chamber and seat the ball with the loading lever ram. Then a percussion cap was placed onto the raised aperture, called a nipple, at the back end of the chamber.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Colt 1860 cost approximately $20 per revolver. This was rather expensive during the 1860s, both for the United States Army and private citizens. Colt had been criticized by this high price, and by 1865 the revolver was reduced to $14.50.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Colt \"Army\" revolver is to be distinguished from the Colt \"Navy\" revolver of which there were two models, the octagonal barrel Model 1851 Navy, and the round-barreled Model 1861 Navy, both Navy models being in the smaller .36-caliber.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45840366043205,"sku":"ONSV26MSB097","price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/77F7417E-9CAD-4CEF-ABD5-3F7EFA5CD0DA.jpg?v=1790187884","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-colt-model-1860-army-44-caliber-percussion-revolver-with-replica-barrel-and-replaced-parts-serial-no-159582-1866-made-components","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}