Make: Eagle Arms Co. for Plant's Mfg.

Model: Front Loading Pocket

Serial Number: 2519

Year of Manufacture: ca. mid-1860s

Action Type: Front-Loading Cup-Primed Single Action Cartridge Revolver

Barrel Length: 3 1/2"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel's solid rib. The rear sight is a "V"-notch integral to the topstrap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth wood. The inside of each panel is stamped "25 / 19". The grips have minor handling wear with some scattered small nicks and scratches. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Excellent condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Silver Plated Brass

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is some light erosion and infrequent minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 7/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The balance is mostly in scattered wear and minor oxidation on the barrel and cylinder. The frame has generally strong silver plate with scattered minor frosting. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows light operational wear including a thin turn-line on the cylinder. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in Fine condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in a hinge-lid cardboard Eagle Arms box. The box shows wear and tears with some losses at edges.

Our Assessment: It's hard to imagine today, but during the transition from percussion cap, muzzle-loading revolvers to cartridge revolvers, there was one man in the United States who held the patent on bored-through cylinders, Rollin White. Smith & Wesson was clever enough to obtain an exclusive license for White's patent, but left much of the legal defense of the patent up to Rollin himself. It is a conundrum to create a revolver which accepts self-contained cartridges which is not open on both ends, but some ingenious inventors came up with workarounds. In attempting to defend his patent, Rollin White would nearly see an Act of Congress passed to renew his patent, but it was vetoed by Ulysses S. Grant on the advice of his Chief of Ordnance, who apparently felt that White had been a hindrance to the war effort during the Civil War by his ceaseless litigation. White would ultimately spend a large portion of the money he made from his patent on such legal defense, and Smith & Wesson made out like bandits. Not only did they make huge amounts of money selling revolvers which legally utilized White’s patent, they would also frequently purchase existing inventory of the violators to help While recoup some of his legal expenses.

Plant's Mfg. Co. patented a cup-loading cartridge revolver which loaded from the front. Larger framed "Army" revolvers were produced by Plant's in Connecticut, but the smaller Pocket models were made by Eagle Arms in New York. This Pocket model is in quite outstanding condition for its age, especially a pocket revolver. This may be due to the included Eagle Arms box which appears to have taken the brunt of the years, leaving a nicely preserved and very interesting antique revolver for the discerning collector. Please see our photos and good luck!