Product Description
Rare CIVIL WAR Era Antique U.S. ROGERS & SPENCER .44 Army Revolver NEW YORK
SCARCE 1 of 5,000 1865 Army Contract Revolvers
Here we present an antique Rogers & Spencer U.S. Contract Army Revolver in .44 Caliber, made circa 1865 near Utica, New York in Willow Dale. This revolver was based on the Freeman design and featured a solid frame like the Whitneys and the Remingtons. This was a high quality firearm that would have excelled on the battlefield. Its capacity was 6 shots of .44 caliber cap & ball out of a 7-1/2 octagonal barrel.
Approximately 5,800 of these revolvers were manufactured, and this is one of the approximately 5000 contract revolvers made for the U.S. Army in 1865. Of the 5,000, 1,500 were to be delivered by the end of April in 1865, and the balance by September of 1865. This example is serial number “1072” likely making it one of the 1,500 delivered prior to the end of the Civil War. Despite the Rogers & Spencer being among the best of the best percussion military revolvers ever produced, none were issued for field service during or after the Civil War. All 5,000 of them were kept in storage in New York until 1901. At that time, the entire lot of them were sold at auction as surplus through Francis Bannerman in New York at a cost to the bidder of around 50 cents each. The total number of Rogers and Spencer arms produced, based on existing serial numbers, was approximately 5,800, indicating that some were likely sold on the commercial market.
Prior to making these revolvers, Rogers & Spencer had made Pettengill percussion revolvers in Pocket, Navy and Army sizes. This example has multiple single letter government inspection marks on various parts, along with a “RPB” cartouche on the left grip, for Captain Robert P. Barry of the U.S. Army. This is rare Rogers & Spencer Army Model revolver with U.S. Army inspection marks.
The overall condition is fine. Original blue finish with some muted case colors. The action is excellent. The bore is reflective with sharp rifling. The front sight post has been replaced. The right grip has an old chip and the grips are otherwise solid with a clear cartouche on the left. Numbers match.
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 7-1/2 inches.
Caliber: .44 Percussion
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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$3800
#244028