MODEL 1860 COLT ARMY PISTOL – IDENTIFIED TO
COMPANY E 8TH US CAVALRY – A HISTORIC AND
WELL DOCUMENTED EARLY INDIAN WAR ISSUED REVOLVER IN VERY
NICE CONDITION: Perhaps the best known
specimen of a Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver identified
as having been in the inventory of the Company E, 8TH
US Cavalry Regiment, this exact pistol is featured in a
number of published references such as GUNS OF THE
WESTERN INDIAN WARS by R.S. Dorsey, and ARMING &
EQUIPPING THE US CAVALRY by D. Farrington.
Manufactured in 1864, this Colt presents in its original
form with none of the evidence of the refurbishing which
so many of these early Indian War revolvers were
subjected to. The barrel is full length at 8”, and the
cylinder was not repeatedly polished and retains a
considerable amount of legible scene details. All of
the serial numbers match, including those on the
cylinder, cylinder arbor, the wedge, and most
importantly – the grip.
Both sides of the pistol’s grip are legibly stamped “Co
E 8TH CAV”, establishing the issue of this
pistol to Company E of the 8TH US Cavalry
Regiment The format and font of this stamping is
identical as those noted on the grips of two other Model
1860 Army revolvers, on a Remington New Model Army, and
on two Model 1868 Sharps Carbines – all bearing the same
“Co E 8TH CAV” stamping, using the same font
and format.
The 8TH US Cavalry Regiment was created after
the Civil War in 1866, at the Presidio of Monterey,
California as the army reorganized and expanded to meet
the demands of the advancing frontier. Since the Model
1860 Colt Army pistols were replaced in 1874 with the
adoption of the Model 1873 Colt Single Actions, the
markings on the grips of this pistol were applied during
that fairly tight intervening period of eight years.
During
that early Indian Wars period,
the 8TH was attached to the Department of
California, and Company E was stationed, and saw
considerable action, in Oregon against the Modocs, in
Idaho against the Nez Perce and Bannocks, and in the
Arizona Territory against the Apaches.
It is worth noting that while the army did not approve
of such unit identification stamps on the firearms, and
in fact, specifically prohibited the practice via
written orders, there were several units on the frontier
that regularly applied stamped identification marks on
their guns, to include the 3RD, 4TH,
8TH, 9TH, and 10TH
Cavalry Regiments. Of special interest is that as the
army discouraged the practice, and therefore never
established a service-wide standard for content, font,
or placement of the identification stamps on the arms,
each unit developed their own unique criteria and style,
and more often than not, located
the stamps on the same place on the firearms within a
company or regiment.
The unique nature of these stamps has proven to be a
boon to modern collectors, as once familiar with the
placement and style of a particular unit’s stampings,
the collector is better equipped to identify genuine
stamps from spurious stamps
that may be applied to enhance an unmarked piece,
and as many of these early frontier arms were used
heavily and often show significant wear, in the cases
where a portion of the markings have been partially worn
or obliterated, what markings remain are sufficient to
make a complete identification of the unit possible.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the stampings are
original to the pistol’s period of use, and that they
are indeed genuine 8TH Cavalry markings. The
grips, numbered to this pistol and obviously original
to the revolver, are in very good condition with little
of the significant wear commonly encountered on these
Colt Army pistols which were used in the field.
As a result, the fully legible stamping on these grips
easily rates as excellent. Both sides of the grip on
this Colt were stamped “Co E 8TH CAV” in an
arc following the curve of the grip. Showing only the
slightest amount of wear across the length of each
stamping, all of the characters are fully present and
only the sharp edges which would have stood proud of the
surface when the grips were newly stamped have worn away
with time and use. The stampings on these grips is
without doubt the best known surviving example of this
unit’s markings on a pistol. The original inspector’s
cartouche is still faintly legible on the left side,
immediately below the “Co E” portion of the stamping,
between the stamping and the bottom edge of the grip.
The mechanics are excellent, with the cylinder indexing
properly and locking up tight at full cock. The metal
finish is very smooth with some of the original faded
blue finish remaining in protected places. The proper
inspector’s marks are still visible, and the barrel
address and frame stamping are clear and legible.
An author's proof copy of GUNS OF THE WESTERN INDIAN
WARS which featured this particular revolver will
accompany this sale.
Most of these post-Civil War issued 1860 Colt Army
Pistols were exposed to harsh and extensive service on
the frontier, and many of them probably did not survive
to be available today. Not only did this important
specimen survive in very nice condition, but it also is
unit marked in a well recognized manner which adds
considerably to the value. Well documented, these unit
marked pistols have become very desirable and are quite
difficult to find. There will be no doubt that you are
holding a true piece of history from the early Indian
Wars and one that was carried on the American Frontier.
SOLD
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