Make: Remington
Model: 1858 New Model Army
Serial Number: 136245
Year of Manufacture: Circa Feb. 1865 / Antique
]Caliber: .44 Caliber Ball, Percussion re-Conversion
Action Type: Percussion Cap and Ball Single Action Revolver
Markings: The left side of the grip frame and bottom of the barrel are marked with the serial number. The rear face of the cylinder is marked "6941". There are a host of inspection marks. The left side of the loading lever is marked "D". The bottom of the trigger guard is marked "J". The left side of the barrel is marked "W" and the right is marked "C". The bottom of the barrel in front of the loading lever is marked "2522 V". The left side of the frame is marked "K". The side of the cylinder is marked "A". The left side of the grip frame is marked "2522", "21", "1", "136245". The right side of the grip frame is marked "K", "1", "2347". The right side of the frame at the forcing cone is marked "C". The inside of the right grip has a penciled number that appears to read "46545". The left side of the frame behind the trigger guard is marked "A". The top of the barrel is marked "PATENTED SEPT. 14. 1858 / REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, NEW YORK, U.S.A. / NEW-MODEL". The left grip has a George Palmer cartouche.
Barrel Length: 8"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a silver blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a "V" notch at the end of a groove in the top strap. The front sight has been replaced.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth walnut. There are scattered handling marks and compressions. There are no chips or cracks. There is rub wear on the bottom edges. There is verdigris around the screw escutcheons. The grips rate in about Very Good overall condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue with Brass Trigger Guard
Finish Originality: Original to the parts, replacement cylinder.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is defined with some minor rounding. There is scattered light pitting in the bore, generally toward the muzzle. There are minor dents at the top where the front sight is installed. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 6/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 15% of its metal finish. The strongest remaining finish is located on the barrel protected by the loading lever. The finish has numerous scattered spots of light scabbing, oxidation, discoloration from previous oxidation, and scratches from abrasive cleaning. There are some heavy nicks on the sides of the frame at the rammer housing There is intermittent light pitting. The cylinder has a turn line and the brass trigger guard has developed an attractive patina. The screwheads display too marks but retain serviceable slots. The markings are generally clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Good condition as an 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 & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Remington New Model Army was the final and most refined of Remington's large-frame percussion revolvers and became one of the principal Union sidearms of the latter Civil War. Introduced in 1863, the .44-caliber, six-shot New Model combined an 8" octagonal barrel with Remington's strong solid-frame construction, giving it greater rigidity and protection around the cylinder than the open-top Colt pattern. The U.S. government purchased more than 116,000 Remington revolvers during the war, with the New Model Army becoming an especially important Ordnance Department purchase late in the conflict. Serial number 136245 falls within the late wartime production range and is consistent with approximately February 1865 manufacture, placing this revolver within the final months of the Civil War and within Remington's major 1865 government deliveries. Its numerous military sub-inspection marks and George Palmer acceptance cartouche provide particularly desirable evidence of U.S. government inspection and acceptance.
This revolver is quite interesting as it has features consistent with a cartridge conversion, most notably the loading groove on the frame and assembly numbers on frame and barrel, but has been converted back to percussion with a replacement cylinder. The semi-bright 6/10 bore retains defined rifling, while the strong mainspring, very good cylinder lockup, and correctly functioning action are additional positives. For the Civil War martial-arms collector, its late-war 1865 manufacture, U.S. inspection marks, intact government-inspected stocks, and odd re-conversion make this a representative and historically significant Union Remington with genuine service-era character and unique features.
