Product Description
CIVIL WAR Era MANHATTAN FIRE ARMS CO. Series III Percussion “NAVY” Revolver
ENGRAVED With Multi-Panel CYLINDER SCENE
Here we present an antique Manhattan Arms Third Series Percussion Navy Revolver, made circa late 1861 with the third series being produced between September 1861 to April 1864 in Newark, New Jersey. Serial numbers ranged between 14,500 and 45,200 in this series. Manhattan Fire Arms Co. was founded in 1856 specifically to capitalize on the soon to be expiring Colt patents in 1857. This strategy worked very well for the company and they began by making high quality and very close copies of both Colts and other popular pistols with expired patents. These revolvers greatly resemble the Colt Model 1849 Pocket and 1851 Navy revolvers. In fact, Manhattan’s copies of Colts were so close that Colt tried to kill their production with a lawsuit, even though their patent had expired. There were roughly 80,000 total revolvers made throughout the production run of Series One through Series Five. Series I through Series IV were all five-shot revolvers while the Series V (with its tapered loading lever) was of six-shot. All were, however, chambered for the .36 ball cartridge.
Manhattan’s revolvers were very well received by the public. The company never received U.S. military contracts, except for a small delivery, most likely on the regimental level. Nevertheless, many Manhattan revolvers found themselves on smoky Civil War battlefields, purchased privately by officers and soldiers, and they were certainly in use at home. The war created a vast and unquenchable market for firearms of all types.
The overall condition is very good. Excellent action. The bore is in good shape for its age with strong rifling. Good grip. Number match. This example’s cylinder scene remains intact. Legible markings.
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 6-1/2 inches.
Caliber: .36 Percussion
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.
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$2200
#220560