Extraordinary U.S. Martially Inspected Colt Model 1861 Navy Revolver, SN - 707

This extraordinary 3-Digit Serial Number, Martially Inspected U.S. Colt Model 1861 Navy Revolver was delivered to John Wood, Quartermaster General, Springfield, IL, on August 23, 1861. The Colt Model 1861 Navy had a relatively short production run from 1861 to 1873 during which time only 38,843 were manufactured. There was only one type produced, and it was a .36 caliber with a six-shot cylinder and a 7.5” barrel. All Model 1861 Navy pistols have a streamlined shape which made it one of the best pistols of the percussion era. This light revolver was popular with ranking Army officers and Cavalrymen. Of the 38,843 Model 1861 Navy’s manufactured, only 2,350 were previously known to have been purchased by the U.S. Government. These guns were delivered in 1862 as part of a 2,000 gun contract with the Ordnance Department which was signed on April 13, 1861. In 1862, an additional 363 Model 1861 Navy revolvers were purchased by the U. S. Government from Colt distributors. The 2,000 pistols purchased under the April, 1861, contract were previously believed to be the only Ordnance inspected Model 1861 Navy revolvers to exist. The serial number range for this 2,000 gun contract are scattered from 2496 to 16,236. However, this martially marked U.S. Colt Model 1861 represents a previously overlooked U.S. Government order of 500 in 1861 by Quartermaster General John Wood. Research suggests that these 500 revolvers, along with various other guns & supplies, were purchased without going through the “proper channels” in Washington D.C.. A November 3, 1862, Adjutant Report from Allen C Fuller, Adjutant General, suggests that the purchase of these guns and supplies were unknown to anyone in Washington, D.C. until they received the bill. The same 1862 report states that John Wood immediately issued these guns & supplies to mustering Illinois Cavalry Volunteer units. (Ref. Northern Illinois University Archives – Adjutant General Report 1861-1863)…. These 500 martially inspected U.S. Colt Model 1861 Navy revolvers were among the very first to leave the Colt factory and all are believed to bear a 3-digit serial number. Springfield Research Service literature suggests that serial numbers 341, 342, and 343 were issued to Company D, 2nd Illinois Cavalry. A few Model 1861 Navy revolvers were also reported in the hands of troopers from Companies F & L, 13th Illinois Cavalry in 1864. However, it is very likely that many of these revolvers were also issued to the 8th Illinois Cavalry, who mustered during the exact time that these revolvers were being issued. The 8th Illinois Cavalry was commissioned on August 11, 1861, and was assembled for service in St. Charles, Illinois, on September 18, 1861. The regiment served the duration of the war, and was the only Illinois cavalry regiment to serve the entire war in the Army of the Potomac. Lieutenant Marcellus Jones of the 8th Illinois Cavalry fired what is regarded as the first shot of the Battle of Gettysburg. After the U. S. Contract Walker Colt revolver, a U. S. Contract (martially marked) Model 1861 Navy revolver is the rarest and most desirable Colt percussion handgun to collectors. This revolver features the very desirable U. S. Ordnance sub-inspector mark "R.A.C.” (Rinaldo A. Carr) under the right grip, as well as “B. C.” on the right grip – which may be the officer’s initials that carried it, or, more likely, represents identification for “Company B.” The bottom of the left grip bears five deep cut “kill notches”, indicating that this revolver was carried by a fighting officer. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U. S. AMERICA-", as well as "COLT'S/PATENT" in two lines on the left side of the frame. The serial number is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, underside of the cylinder pin, bottom of the frame, bottom of the trigger guard and bottom of the back strap - no other parts are stamped. The original blued military finish on this gun is faded, and no cylinder roll-stampings remain visible under normal light. This gun does, however, appear to be in good working order. This gun comes with a framed Colt factory letter. It also sells with a framed copy of a correspondence between Allen C. Fuller & General C. P. Buckinghan (assistant to the U. S. Secretary of War) on November 3, 1862, which references the purchase of these revolvers. The new buyer will inherit an abundance of museum quality Illinois Cavalry display imagery on .25", catalog and newspaper. This may be the first time that the interesting origins of a 3-digit serial number U.S. Contract 1861 Navy revolvers have been brought to light. It is very likely that once the collector community is aware of the interesting history of these pistols, they will become a “must have” in all serious Colt/Civil War collections. This is a very unique investment opportunity to purchase a scarce Civil War revolver with extraordinary history that is likely to triple in value in the years to come.