Assistance Needed with New Model 1858

[bar2009]

This particular item has:

1. Serial #54793 stamped on the frame under the left grip and stamped on the barrel.
2. A "W" etched into both side of the barrel, front of the trigger guard, and frame itself.
3. A "C" etched into the cylinder.
4. A "T" etched into the underside of the barrel, near the loading lever catch.
5. No noticeable cartouche on the grip.

From what I was able to research on my own, I believe it was delivered around February 1864. Beyond that, I have no information as to delivered where, possible military use, etc. Is it possible to uncover any additional information for this particular gun, or is the delivery timeframe likely as much as I'll be able to definitively learn?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[bar2009]

See Photos below. Close ups of some of the features listed above.

[dieNusse1]

No indication of cartouche on left grip?

[bar2009]

Not that I can see. I think the grips were refinished at some point.

[aardq]

Hello BAR2009,

That is a New Model Army, made in Feb 1864. Are there any letters stamped (not etched) on the trigger guard, or the loading lever? Is the serial number stamped on the trigger guard, or penciled on the inside either of the grips? Very Interesting pistol in that the loading lever is a Beals Model lever.

The stamped letters are the marks of sub-inspectors on guns made for a government contract. It is extreme;y difficult to find records that might show where the pistol was sent, or what unit might have gone to.

If there are no letters stamped on the trigger guard, or the loading lever, this might be a parts gun, where someone had the barreled receiver and added the parts needed to complete the pistol.

Daniel

[bar2009]

Thanks for the reply. There is a “W” stamped on the trigger guard, and the serial number is stamped on the frame underneath the left grip, and on the underside of the barrel. I do not see a letter stamped on the loading lever. There is however a “T” stamped next to the loading lever catch on the underside of the barrel.


There is a “W” on both sides of the barrel, on the frame itself near the cylinder, and the trigger guard. Also a “C” stamped into the cylinder,

[bar2009]

I realized I misread part of your question above—the serial number is not penciled on the inside of the grips, and not on the trigger guard. The trigger guard just has a stamped “W”. The serial number appears on only the frame underneath the left grip, and on the underside of the barrel.

[aardq]

Hello again,

The lack of a number on the trigger guard, plus the Beals loading lever leads me to that this is a pistol that was assembled from some parts. There are other possibilities, and feel free to make use of any possibility. Starting with a military armorer using salvaged parts from non-operational pistols to assemble a working gun.
I don't think that Remington assembled the pistol, or they would have used a proper loading lever, and probably would hav stamped the number on the trigger guard tab.

You have a unique and interesting pistol, so enjoy it for what it is,
Daniel

[bar2009]

You inspired me to look closer, and lo and behold, once I removed the trigger guard, I found the matching serial number stamped on the inside tab!

IMG_6491.jpeg (2.13 MiB) Viewed 83 times

[bar2009]

I also removed the loading lever and found this little star stamped on a portion that was hidden when installed on the gun.

IMG_6492.jpeg (2.64 MiB) Viewed 79 times

[aardq]

Hello bar2009,

The serial on the trigger guard tab changes everything. It means that except for the Beals loading lever, and possibly the grips, this pistol is probably all original.

I've never seen that type of star before, and I didn't find it in the book, "Gunmarks" by David Byron, printed in 1979. That leaves us wondering why this part was stamped, but by who, and when? At times I wonder if the other gunmakers have as many mysteries?

Daniel

[bar2009]

Is it possible this gun received the Beals loading lever from the factory? I read that certain guns were “transitional” models that had mixed parts, though that seemed to more line up with serial numbers from 1863.

IMG_6493.jpeg (323.38 KiB) Viewed 52 times

[aardq]

Hello again,

Yes, Remington, and all other makers had transitional pieces with old and new parts on some pistols. I might suspect that except that the serial is too high for this to be one of those.

According to Don Ware's book, the last transitional Army pistols from 1861 model, to New Model was June, 1862. About serial 27,250. All New Models started the same month, about that same serial number. Your pistol was made in Feb., 1864, eighteen months and 30,000 pistols later. While it is possible that a Beals part was left over, it was not very likely considering the time between the two events.

The most impossibility on a military pistol was a loading lever replacement in the field.But, I am open to other possibilities.

Daniel

[aardq]

A quick PS.

On the parts bin theory, eighteen+ months is just too much time between the last Old Model and your pistol to consider this possibility. It seems highly improbably that a loading lever lay in a parts bin that long.

Daniel

[bar2009]

In doing some research, I read that the star stamp was a sign that the part was a government approved replacement part, thus the loading lever was likely replaced in the field. Perhaps whatever damaged the loading lever in the field also damaged the grips, which would explain why they are missing a cartouche if they were replaced.


It’s too bad it’s likely impossible to know the story!

Do you have an opinion on what the value of this particular gun could be as it sits today?