Identify an 1875-1890?

Topics related to Pre - 1898 Remington Pistols
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WCG 61
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2025 9:26 am

Identify an 1875-1890?

Post by WCG 61 »

Hi guys
I am a pistolsmith from England (yes there are still some handguns in the UK, but not many!)
I recently had a Remington revolver come in, and I need some help to Identify it.
So what I believe the spec to be....
44-40 calibre, 5 3/4" barrel, blued finish (refinished badly), wood grips (unmarked), no calibre markings, round top hammer with pinned firing pin, .510" diameter ratchet on the cylinder. E Remington address on the barrel read from muzzle to frame. Frame has a rebate on the end of the ejector rod hole. Frame number on left hand side under grip is 80, this number also appears on the loading gate and the trigger guard. Assembly number 240 appears on the flat of the barrel and the inside of the ejector housing.
so is it a very early 1875 modified, or an 1888
Any information would be appreciated
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billt
Posts: 271
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2003 6:42 pm

Re: Identify an 1875-1890?

Post by billt »

Hello, I believe you have a Model 1888 revolver. A very early 1875 would have a long barrel with a pinched front sight, a flat top hammer with a rectangular firing pin, no frame rebate or bevels, a lanyard post and ring, a barrel address which read from frame to muzzle and would be chambered in .44 Remington caliber. Original short barrel Remington revolvers were manufactured at the end of the 1875 production and were chambered in .45 caliber.
Assembly numbers on Model 1888's are found on the bottom of the barrel, the top of the ejector housing and sometimes on the front of the frame hidden by the ejector housing. Assembly numbers on reworked Model 1875 revolvers are found on the bottom of the barrel, the top of the ejector housing, the back of the cylinder and on the left frame to the right of the grip pin.

I hope this helps,
Bill
WCG 61
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2025 9:26 am

Re: Identify an 1875-1890?

Post by WCG 61 »

Thanks for the reply.
I know the re-finished condition makes it not of any value, but it's interesting to know if it has any historical significance.
It seems that it is rare in terms of number produced, but do many survive?
Many thanks
aardq
Posts: 546
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2005 1:02 pm

Re: Identify an 1875-1890?

Post by aardq »

Hi WCG,

RSA members, George Mcallister and Rich Shepler track the 1888 models. The assembly number is the number made, and the highest one is just below 300. We don't know the survival rate because so few are known, and they are usually
mis-identified as a Model 1890, or a cut down 1875. Blue finish 1888 are extremely rare since most 88s were nickeled. Too bad the gun was refinished.

Daniel
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