Colt 1860 Army .44 Percussion Revolver – Civilian Two-Screw Frame, Numbers Matching, 1863 Production
Manufactured in 1863, this Colt Army Model 1860 represents a true civilian-market example, identifiable by its two-screw frame and absence of U.S. ordnance markings. All major components carry matching serial number 126739, confirming original assembly. A blued 8-inch barrel, color case-hardened frame, and brass trigger guard/back strap marked with the inspector initial “H” round out a revolver that illustrates Colt’s peak Civil War-era craftsmanship while remaining outside government contract production.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair – Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling – Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
This revolver is structurally sound with a tight lock-up. Scratches, blemishes, and era-typical discoloration are present on metal and wood surfaces. The retention screw for the loading lever is missing, but all other components remain intact.
What’s Included
- Colt Army Model 1860 Civilian Two-Screw Frame .44 percussion revolver (numbers matching)
Built on Colt’s large percussion frame, this six-shot revolver uses the robust single-action mechanism favored by soldiers and civilians alike during the Civil War era. The two-screw frame omits the shoulder-stock cuts found on martial examples, underscoring its commercial sale status.
The rebated cylinder is roll-marked “PATENTED SEPT 10th 1850” and retains traces of its original blue. Colt’s creeping rack-and-pinion loading lever with a plunger-type latch ensures positive seating of percussion charges, a refinement introduced with the 1860 Army.
Steel barrel and cylinder contrast nicely with the color case-hardened frame, while the one-piece varnished walnut grip remains serviceable and correctly fitted. Fixed iron sights consist of a brass blade front and a hammer-notch rear, exactly as issued.
Collectors will appreciate the untouched civilian configuration, matching numbers throughout, and production date squarely within the conflict that defined the platform’s legacy—all factors that combine to make this antique Colt a historically meaningful piece.