Original U.S. Civil War Martially Marked Remington .44cal "Old Model" 1861 Army Percussion Revolver - Serial 6080

Original Item: One One Available. This is a very fine and scarce example of the Remington “Old Model” (also known as the Model 1861) Army percussion revolver, serial number 6080, with an early production date of 1862. This revolver is martially marked, bearing a clear U.S. Army inspection cartouche on the left grip, confirming it as a U.S. military–accepted sidearm from the early Civil War period.

The Model 1861 was designed as an improvement over the earlier Beals Model Army revolvers produced from 1858 to 1862. Only about 850 of the Beals .44 caliber Army revolvers were purchased by the Ordnance Department, making them exceedingly rare today. The Model 1861 incorporated the design improvements covered under William Elliott’s patent of December 17, 1861, which allowed the cylinder arbor pin to be withdrawn without lowering the loading lever. Other refinements included a re-contoured frame exposing the barrel threads at the rear, reducing both weight and manufacturing cost.

Remington secured a U.S. Ordnance Department contract on July 13, 1862 for 20,000 of these new Model 1861 Army revolvers, but only 4,902 were ultimately delivered before production shifted to the improved Model 1863 “New Model Army.” Although these refinements seemed promising, in practice the new arbor pin design sometimes caused the pin to shift forward under recoil, locking the revolver solid. As a result, many Model 1861 revolvers were later returned to the factory for modification or retrofit with the older Beals-style solid loading lever.

This revolver, serial number 6080, falls comfortably within the early production range of the Model 1861 series and represents the first months of martial issue during 1862. It exhibits the characteristic “Old Model” features, including the solid frame with exposed barrel threads, and retains early transitional traits that predate the later “New Model” improvements. The top barrel flat bears the correct two-line legend:
PATENTED DEC. 17, 1861 / MANUFACTURED BY REMINGTONS’ ILION, N.Y.

Condition is VERY GOOD+ to NEAR FINE, with approximately 10% of the original blued finish remaining overall, primarily on the 8" octagonal barrel, with mottled traces on the frame and cylinder. The balance of the metal has aged to an even blue-gray patina, with scattered flecks of light oxidation consistent with honest service use. The barrel markings are crisp and fully legible. The metal surfaces are mostly smooth with only minor areas of pinprick oxidation, mostly confined to the barrel and forward frame.

The bore remains in very good condition, showing strong rifling with light, scattered pitting typical of Civil War use. The revolver retains its original German silver cone front sight and original loading lever, which locks and releases smoothly. Mechanically, the revolver functions perfectly—it indexes, times, and locks up tightly, a testament to Remington’s rugged wartime design.

The two-piece walnut grips are excellent and complete, showing crisp edges and only minor wear from handling. The left grip bears a clear, partially legible U.S. Army inspection cartouche, confirming it as an official military-issued revolver. Additional small sub-inspector’s initials appear on various metal components. The grips show only minor bumps and light wear and retain an attractive aged finish that complements the metal patina.

Overall, this Remington Model 1861 “Old Model” Army revolver, serial number 6080 (1862 production), is a scarce and highly desirable U.S. martial sidearm representing an important transitional step between the early Beals revolvers and the later, more common Model 1863 “New Model Army.” With only 4,902 units delivered to the U.S. Ordnance Department, these revolvers represent roughly 4% of total wartime production and are seldom encountered today, especially in such honest, complete, and mechanically excellent condition.

A very crisp and attractive example of an early U.S. martial Remington revolver, this piece would make an outstanding addition to any advanced Civil War arms collection, representing one of the rarest variations of the Remington Army percussion revolver lineage.

Specifications -
Year of Manufacture: 1862
Caliber: .44"
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 8 Inches
Action type: Single Action
Feed System: Revolver 

History of Remington 1861 Army "Old Model" Revolver:

Remington, like Colt, was in business of arms making long prior to the Civil War. They had been producing handguns since 1857 when they introduced the Remington Beals Pocket Revolver. With the outbreak of the Civil War all of the company's energy became devoted to the military production of longarms and hand guns. The martial hand guns produced during the Civil War period included the Remington-Beals Army and Navy Model revolvers, the Remington Models 1861 Army and Navy Revolvers, (a.k.a. as the "Old Model Army" and "Old Model Navy") and the Remington New Model 1863 Army and Navy revolvers.

The Remington is a single-action, six-shot, percussion revolver produced by E. Remington & Sons, Ilion, N.Y., based on the Fordyce Beals patent of September 14, 1858 (Patent 21,478). The Remington Army revolver is large-framed revolver in .44 caliber with an 8-inch barrel length. The Remington Navy revolver is slightly smaller framed than the Army and in .36 caliber with a 7.375 inch [Beals Navy 7.5 inch] barrel length. There were three progressive models made: the Remington-Beals Army & Navy (1860–1862), the 1861 Army & Navy (1862–1863), and the New Model Army & Navy (1863–1875). The three models are nearly identical in size and appearance. Subtle but noticeable differences in hammers, loading levers, and cylinders help identify each model. The 1861 Remington actually transitioned into New Model appearance by late 1862, slowly transforming throughout 1862, due to continual improvement suggestions from the U. S. Ordnance Department.

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