Hello all - I am the proud new custodian of a 1858 New Model revolver. I don't know much about it and can't really find
one exactly like it. It seems to have had a conversion but I haven't been able to locate information on a similar one.
The serial is 142710 and it has a secondary number 1900, which appear on the barrel and the frame under the left grip.
The 142710 number is also on the "toe" of the trigger guard. There is a faint cartouche on the left grip and various
letters on the frame. The cylinder has a single line that says "Patented April 3 1855". The top of the barrel has a
three line address. Additionally there is a number 36 on the left frame beneath the grip and the number 1826 on the
right frame beneath the grip. Lastly, both grips are signed on the inside, maybe Rudolf Kinnard?? Am going to upload
pictures. I would appreciate any information - thanks so much!
Information Request for Remington 1858 New Model Revolver
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rlatham664
Information Request for Remington 1858 New Model Revolver
- Attachments
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- 3 line address
- 3-line-address.jpg (234.59 KiB) Viewed 1961 times
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- Left frame serials
- left-frame-serial.jpg (203.13 KiB) Viewed 1961 times
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- Right side
- right-side.jpg (162.34 KiB) Viewed 1961 times
Re: Information Request for Remington 1858 New Model Revolve
Hello,
Congratulations on becoming the custodian of that Remington Revolver. Your revolver is a Type 1 conversion, which was converted to 46 rim fire by the Remington factory after the Civil War. It was originally a 44 caliber percussion revolver which was manufactured in March of 1865 putting it among the last 7,000 of approximately 122,000 New Model Army revolvers delivered to the Ordnance Department during the war. The various letters on the major parts are inspection marks and the cartouche on the left grip is from one of the Principle Sub-Inspectors indicating the revolver passed Government Inspection. The number 36 on the left grip frame was used during the conversion process because the conversion parts had to be had fitted to a specific revolver and should match the number on the rear of the backing plate.
In February 1868 Remington signed a contract with Smith & Wesson, who controlled the Rollin White Patent for bored through cylinders, to convert their New Model Army percussion revolvers to cartridge revolvers. Yours is number 1,900 of the 4,574 Type 1 conversions done by Remington between September, 1868 and April, 1869 at the request of Benjamin Kittredge, an Ohio Arms Dealer, who sold them on the civilian market. Kittredge paid Remington $3.3625 per revolver converted of which $1 went to Smith & Wesson. The “Patented April 3rd 1855” is the Rollin White Patent date and was stamped on the cylinders of all the Type 1 revolvers.
Remington produced three types on conversions all of which were 46 rim fire. The major difference is the addition of a cartridge ejector, which was mounted on the right side of the frame parallel with the barrel. Yours is a Type 1 with no ejector, the Type 2 and 3 have an ejector. With the expiration of the Rollin White Patent in April, 1869 Remington no longer had to pay royalties to Smith & Wesson so the Rollin White Patent date is not normally found on the cylinders of the other two types. More information about New Model Army Conversions can be found in, Remington Large Bore Conversion Revolvers, by Roger Phillips. You should probably try to borrow a copy if possible since the price of one on the internet is in excess of $300.
I hope this helps,
Bill
Congratulations on becoming the custodian of that Remington Revolver. Your revolver is a Type 1 conversion, which was converted to 46 rim fire by the Remington factory after the Civil War. It was originally a 44 caliber percussion revolver which was manufactured in March of 1865 putting it among the last 7,000 of approximately 122,000 New Model Army revolvers delivered to the Ordnance Department during the war. The various letters on the major parts are inspection marks and the cartouche on the left grip is from one of the Principle Sub-Inspectors indicating the revolver passed Government Inspection. The number 36 on the left grip frame was used during the conversion process because the conversion parts had to be had fitted to a specific revolver and should match the number on the rear of the backing plate.
In February 1868 Remington signed a contract with Smith & Wesson, who controlled the Rollin White Patent for bored through cylinders, to convert their New Model Army percussion revolvers to cartridge revolvers. Yours is number 1,900 of the 4,574 Type 1 conversions done by Remington between September, 1868 and April, 1869 at the request of Benjamin Kittredge, an Ohio Arms Dealer, who sold them on the civilian market. Kittredge paid Remington $3.3625 per revolver converted of which $1 went to Smith & Wesson. The “Patented April 3rd 1855” is the Rollin White Patent date and was stamped on the cylinders of all the Type 1 revolvers.
Remington produced three types on conversions all of which were 46 rim fire. The major difference is the addition of a cartridge ejector, which was mounted on the right side of the frame parallel with the barrel. Yours is a Type 1 with no ejector, the Type 2 and 3 have an ejector. With the expiration of the Rollin White Patent in April, 1869 Remington no longer had to pay royalties to Smith & Wesson so the Rollin White Patent date is not normally found on the cylinders of the other two types. More information about New Model Army Conversions can be found in, Remington Large Bore Conversion Revolvers, by Roger Phillips. You should probably try to borrow a copy if possible since the price of one on the internet is in excess of $300.
I hope this helps,
Bill