Make: Savage Revolving Fire-Arms Co.

Model: Navy Model

Serial#: 11870

Year of Manufacture: 1861-1865

Caliber: .36 Caliber

Action Type: Single-Action Ring Lever Cocked Percussion Revolver with a 6 Round Cylinder

Barrel Length: 7”, Octagonal

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded post fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "V"-notch mounted to the top of the frame just behind the hammer hole.

Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grips are two-piece smooth wood. There are a few small losses around the edges, most notable at the bottom corners. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is wear at the bottom edge of each panel. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in Good-Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is worn, mostly not visible. There is erosion and pitting throughout the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 3/10.

Overall Condition: The revolver retains about 30% of its current finish. Strongest finish is on the loading lever, hammer, cylinder back-plate, trigger and trigger guard. The frame and cylinder have mostly worn to white or gone to a light patina. There is scattered surface erosion, under the finish on the parts retaining finish. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, the pistol is in about Very Good condition as refinished Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box Paperwork and Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This is a Savage Revolving Fire-Arms Company manufactured Navy Revolver which was manufactured in the 1860s. The gun was produced from 1861 until sometime in the mid-1860s (there are conflicting accounts but it appears the gun’s manufacture ceased sometime before the Civil War ended). The gun saw widespread use by both the Union and Confederate armed forces during America’s bloodiest conflict . The gun proved unpopular with soldiers because it was overly complicated to operate compared to other revolvers, and was unpopular with the Union army both because it was chambered for the lower .36 “Navy” instead of the more popular .44 “Army” caliber and because it cost about double what Colt and Remington were offering.

The gun’s unique design was innovative but not suited to the rigors at the front. In more recent times historians and collectors have come to recognize the gun’s advanced features and it has proven a popular commodity on the Antique firearms market. It should also be noted that the Savage Revolving Fire-Arms Company was not a predecessor of the modern company Savage Arms Co.

The gun has wear consistent with its age, but it's still a fascinating Civil War-era handgun. The action functions much better than most examples we have encountered. This is a fascinating old Civil War revolver that fans of historical firearms will not want to miss out on. Good luck on your bid!