This cap and ball percussion sidearm is an identified Civil War Colt Model 1860 Army revolver that is untouched and "in the black" condition. This weapon is identified to Private John N. Norris by serial # in ordnance / property records of Company E, 4th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry regiment. Norris was a twenty-four year old farmer from Grinnell, IA when he enlisted for three years in Company E, 4th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry at Mt. Pleasant, IA on Sept 23, 1861. Norris served with his regiment through the war and in Dec 1863, he re-enlisted as a Veteran Volunteer at Vicksburg, Miss. He was assigned as a wagoner or teamster in the regiment after contracting a disease that impaired his eyesight. Norris continued as a teamster until he mustered out in Atlanta, GA with the regiment in August 1865. He returned home to Iowa, married and later successfully gained a government pension. Norris passed away on July 24, 1928. 

Private Norris's Colt revolver was in production from 1860 through 1873 and its type was the successor to the Colt Third Model Dragoon pistols. The Colt M1860 Army revolver was the major sidearm in use by U.S. troops during the Civil War with over 127,000 revolvers acquired by the Union government during the conflict. This government inspected sidearm is a .44 caliber, three-screw model with a 6-shot rebated cylinder and an 8" long barrel. The one-piece grip is original walnut in good condition and exhibits a very light government inspector's cartouche on the obverse side. Wood also reveals minor chipping at the left grip's upper corner and at the lower corner of the right grip. The bottom of the grips feature two carved initials "J.H." in addition to three small drilled holes, one of which has produced a 1" long crack upwards from the flat base. Hand scratched numerals are visible on both the left side grip and on the iron backstrap. Never cleaned, all gun metal appears as "in the black' and exhibits a pleasing dark plum patina finish overall. Barrel, cylinder and frame all show very light scattered areas pinprick pockmarking. No original case colors on the frame, hammer or lever. 

Loading lever tip has lost its sliding lock device. Sidearm has a brass trigger guard, iron backstrap as normal and matching numbers # 81064 on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and butt strap. Serial # indicates a production time frame of last quarter of 1862. Cylinder bears no serial # and no traces of the rolled engraved naval scene which has been worn away. This martial weapon is equipped with the recoil shield cutouts on the frame and a small notch in the backstop indicating a martial arm. Barrel address is present but is undecipherable. The revolver mechanics are poor and exhibits no indexing. "COLTS / PATENT" mark on the left side of the frame is present but undecipherable. This 1862 production Colt Model 1860 Army revolver that is identified to a 4th Iowa cavalryman is a popular representative sidearm of the Civil War. Weapon comes with Norris's military and pension records from the National Archives in Washington, DC.

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!