Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Herb Houze

       Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver

      Model 1860 Army Revolver. In production from 1860 through c. 1873; total of about 200,500 made. Serial numbers reached about 156,000 by December, 1865 and the end of the Civil War.

      44 caliber. 6-shot rebated cylinder. 7-1/2" (early production only) and 8" barrels; round, with the creeping style loading lever.

      Grips of one piece walnut. Casehardened frame, hammer, and lever; remainder blued. The gripstraps standard as follows: Brass trigger guard, blued steel backstrap.

      Serial numbers began at 1 and continued through about 200500. The two basic barrel markings were: -ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA- and -ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CT.- (early production only). Standard on the left side of the frame was the stamping: COLTS/PATENT. On the left shoulder of trigger guard strap: 44 Cal. Cylinder roll scene of the battle between the Texas Navy and that of Mexico (Same as applied to the 1851 and 1861 Navy Models).

      Successor to the Third Model Dragoon, the Model 1860 Army ranks third in total number produced of the various models of percussion Colt handguns. It was the major revolver in use by U.S. troops during the Civil War, and 127,156 of the Model 1860 Army were acquired by the Union government for that conflict. Key variations and their values are as follows:

      Fluted Cylinder Army; Cylinders had full flutes, and thus lacked roll engraved scenes. Barrel lengths were 7-1/2" and 8", their markings either the New York or the Hartford addresses. A very few of earliest production fitted with the shorter M. 1851 Navy size grip; very rare variant. Frames usually of the four screw type, with the recoil shield cut for attachment of shoulder stock. Appear in the serial range 3 to about 8000; the total production estimated at 4000:

       5B-091

5B-091

Values—Good $2,500

Fine $11,000

      Standard Round Cylinder Army; The cylinder roll engraved with the Naval Engagement scene. 8" barrel length, most marked with the New York address, but some early specimens are Hartford-marked. Army (large) size grip; blued steel backstraps, brass trigger guards. Frames of the four screw type until about serial range 50000, at which point the fourth screw (for engaging shoulder stock yoke) was dropped. Most of the production sold to the U.S. government, and marked with inspector stampings on the grips and various metal parts:

       5B-092

5B-092

Values—Good $950

Fine $7,500

      Civilian Model Round Cylinder Army; The same as the Standard Round Cylinder pistol, except for the three-screw frame and the lack of cuts for shoulder stock attachment. New York barrel address standard. The finish on Civilian Army revolvers was generally superior to the usual military contract pieces:

5B-093

Values—Good $900

Fine $7,000

      The number of variations in the 1860 Army is not at all as extensive as in the Model 1849 Pocket or the Model 1851 Navy. The Army’s period of manufacture was shorter, and by the time of its introduction, the Colt revolver had reached a pinnacle of evolution employing the percussion ignition system. OTHER VARIATIONS of the Model 1860, sought by collectors: Attachable shoulder stocks were made in the Second and Third patterns (as detailed in the material on the Third Model Dragoon, q.v.).

      The Third type stock is the most often encountered of the military issue “Armys;” large quantity was purchased by government contract early in Civil War. Brass yokes and buttplates usually unfinished on military issue stocks while many sold to civilian market most often silver-plated.

      Stock for the fluted cylinder Army, Second type (attaches to back of handle and butt); very rare:

5B-094

Values—Good $4,250

Fine $10,000

      Stock for the fluted or round cylinder Army, Third type (yoke type; standard style):

       5B-095

5B-095

Values—Good $3,500

Fine $8,500

      (Note: A 25 percent to 50 percent premium is placed on stocks having the canteen insert. Whether for fluted or round cylinder model determined by serial range.)

      “LONDON”-marked Model 1860 Army. All of these were made at the Hartford plant, but bear the barrel marking ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON. Backstraps and trigger guards are blued steel. Specimens viewed in serial ranges 158,000, 167,000 and 168,000 very scarce:

5B-096

Values—Good $2,000

Fine $10,000

       Colt Model 1861 Navy Revolver

      Model 1861 Navy Revolver. Manufactured 1861 through c. 1873; total of 38,843 produced. (Serial numbers approached 28,000 range by December 1865, the year the Civil War ended.)

      36 caliber. 6-shot cylinder. 7-1/2" barrel; round, with the creeping style loading

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