This is one of two revolvers which I just received on consignment; it is a .44 caliber Starr Model 1858 Double-Action Army revolver. It would be considered a “barn-find” or even an early battlefield pick-up because of the slight overall pitting. However, it is totally functional and is complete with the wooden grips which also still have the cartouche, indicating government inspection. The markings are faint, but on one side you can make out “New York” (part of the Starr Arms. Co. New York) and a serial number on the cylinder #14402. The interior of the 6” barrel is very clean with strong rifling.
This revolver has been researched by the Civil War Weapons Search in Barrington, Illinois. The results indicate that it was definitely issued to a cavalryman during the Civil War to either a soldier in the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry in 1863 or to someone in the 7th Michigan Cavalry in 1864. Both of these units saw a tremendous amount of action during the war. The document also states that you can contact the National Archives in Washington, D.C. to find out the name of the soldier it was issued to....I will leave that up to the next owner.
There were 16,100 of these guns delivered to the United States military between January, 1862 and May, 1863 at a cost of $25.00 per revolver. This model actually uses dual triggers to allow the shooter to fire the weapon without first pulling the hammer back by hand. The front trigger cocks the hammer and rotates the cylinder. There is an adjustable lug attached to the rear side of the front trigger that engages the rear trigger which is located in the rear of the trigger-guard which in turn, releases the hammer.
The Model 1858 with its rather novel double action unfortunately was a design whose time had not yet come and was prone to breakage due to the more intricate design over the single action revolvers. There is the story that is more than likely anecdotal, that a certain Union officer was known to have stated that the person who signed the government contract for the Starr 1858 double actions revolvers, should of been hanged for treason. The Army eventually replaced this model with the simpler single actions such as the Starr Model 1863, Colt 1860 Army, Remington New Model Army, or a host of other lesser known revolvers.
While the Union military may have held the Starr DA in an unfavorable light, there is evidence that is was favored by some in the South. The following excerpt was taken from DeBow's Review, April 1861, Volume 30, Issue 4, pp. 505-506: “The proprietors have placed in our hands a self-cocking hair trigger revolver, which is one of the simplest, cheapest and most powerful instruments of defense with which we have met. The agent for New Orleans is O. S. Jennings, 20 Camp Street. Our contemporary of the 'Crescent' says most truthfully of the weapon: 'Starr's revolvers - We made a trial with one of these pistols a few days since, and must acknowledge that we were agreeable surprised by its great range and accuracy. Without being heavier than is desirable for a serviceable belt-pistol, they carry a sufficiently heavy ball to be effective, and, in the hands of a good marksman, a man could be brought down every time at from one hundred to one hundred fifty yards. The trial we made convinced us of this, and further, that they possess all the advantages of the Colt army and navy revolver, with additional ones of being better adapted for quick shooting, and having conveniences for cleaning and keeping in order what in active service will render them less liable to damage. Military companies, about supplying themselves with side arms, could do no better than choose this pistol”.
This is a great piece of American Civil War history and it is being offered here with a great price. It is an opportunity to own a popular Civil War sidearm at a very affordable price. Sorry, but being a consignment piece I cannot do a layaway on it. (ON HOLD)
