Description

Fully 127,156 of the 1860 Army model were sold to the U.S. government during the Civil War, making it the major revolver in use by the Union forces during our nation’s bloodiest conflict. Produced from 1860-1873, the.44 caliber sixgun was produced in both military and civilian models, however the military version, with its 4-screw frame, and cutout recoil shield to allow fitting an attachable shoulder stock, accounted for over half of the entire production of 1860s. Combining much of the power of the earlier dragoons, but boasting improved ballistics, better balance, and a lighter two-pound, 11-ounce weight, as opposed to the dragoon’s 4-plus pound weight. The 1860’s streamlined styling of rounded contours, 8-inch round barrel, represented a distinct departure from the squared-edge profiles of Colt’s earlier models, and the older model’s hinged loading lever was replaced with the improved, so-called “creeping” (rack and pinion-style) lever. After the Civil War, the 1860 went on to serve for several years on the frontier until replaced by metallic cartridge revolvers.