Early .44 Caliber Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver with 4 screw frame, Full Fluted Cylinder,  8" barrel.  It has a low 4 digit serial number in the 3300 range.  As many of you probably know, a quantity of these early Full Fluted 1860's made their way South just prior to the eruption of hostilites in 1861.  There are numerous early 60's out there that "Shoulda, Coulda, and Woulda" shipped to the Confederacy but can't be proven as such due to the fact that Colt's archives are incomplete from early production. That's why we were pretty excited to learn that this gun was found in surviving records. In fact, it was part of one of the very last Confederate-Bound shipments of Colt revolvers to leave the Factory before Fort Sumter was attacked on April 12, 1861. Beverly Haynes of the Colt Factory Archives has informed us that this pistol shipped to New Orleans, LA on April 9, 1861.  It was in an order of 700 Colts for the Dealer, Kittredge & Folsom of New Orleans.  A Factory letter confirming this information should be arriving soon and will be posted on the website shortly. Could this be one of the 1000 Colts described as having 8" barrels used to arm Ben McCullough's Texas units?   Either way, there is no question this revolver went into the hands of the Confederacy at the beginning of the Civil War.

While this gun saw lots of hard Confederate use, its in above average condition in comparison to many Fluted Army Revolvers we've encountered over the years and remains in overall NRA Antique Good+  Condition.  All matching numbers except the wedge which is unmarked.  Metal has turned to a light grey/brown patina.  Metal is mostly smooth and even with little to no pitting...a few dings and marks here and there. Markings are are good and legible but a little worn in places. Barrel address which reads, "-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK U.S.A. AMERICA-"  Left side of the frame is marked "COLT'S PATENT" and left side of the brass triggerguard is marked with a tiny letter "L".  Front sight appears to be the original German silver but has had the sides slimmed down a bit for better sighting.  Very nice screws throughout. Very good Walnut grips with good wood to metal fit.  A few marks on the lower bottom left side of the grip where the butt was used to tap in a nail or tack. Excellent mechanics with all 4 clicks on hammer still sounding with the cylinder still indexing perfectly.  Frame to barrel fit is tight with no wiggle or play.  A nice sharp looking example of an early fluted Army.

Item# 0592

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