Lot 77

Spectacular Civil War U.S. Remington New Model Army Revolver

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Spectacular Civil War U.S. Remington New Model Army Revolver

Estimate: $18,000 - $27,500

Starting Bid: $16,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Spectacular "As Issued" Civil War U.S. E. Remington & Sons New Model Army Percussion Revolver, One of the Finest Known In terms of significant American military firearms the New Model Army is an important piece in the story and was well-received by those who carried them on the battlefields. This E. Remington & Sons New Model Army revolver is essentially what these revolvers would have looked like when they arrived fresh in the hands of Union troops during the Civil War. It is nearly impossible to locate a surviving example today retaining such a significant amount of original finish as seen on this one mainly due to their high usage rate in combination with the brittle nature of their factory blue finish. These U.S. contract Army model revolvers were generally rushed into service, but this revolver appears as if it was never issued and was clearly very well maintained for over a century and a half. Remington's revolvers were the second most widely issued sidearms to Union forces during the Civil War, following only the Colt Model 1860 Army. Released during the middle of the Civil War, the rugged Remington New Model Army is considered to have some advantages when compared with the Colt Model 1860 Army, such as its solid frame with a top-strap and easy cylinder removal for maintenance, and was built upon improvements of the earlier Remington-Beals design patented in 1858. These revolvers helped fulfill a crucial need for revolvers during war time, particularly after Colt's East Armory burnt to the ground early in 1864, after which Remington then became the primary supplier of revolvers to the U.S. government for a period of time. Overall, Remington was a vital supplier of arms for the Union Army, producing approximately 250,000 combined firearms between their rifles, rifle-muskets, carbines, and revolvers in support of the war effort, with more than half of those being revolvers of both the Army and Navy types delivered to the U.S. government. Remington's capability to mass-produce quality weaponry solidified their place as a premier American gunmaker. A pair of New Model Army revolvers serial numbered "1" and "2" and engraved by L. D. Nimschke presented to then Union general and future president Ulysses S. Grant were sold by Rock Island Auction Company in May of 2022 for a record price realized of $5,170,000. This example was manufactured in 1864 per Remington Society serial number listings. The barrel is equipped with a "pinched" blade front sight that is threaded into the barrel. "PATENTED SEPT. 14, 1858/E. REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, NEWYORK,U.S.A./NEW-MODEL" marked in three lines on top of the barrel. The matching serial number "46708" is marked on the bottom of the barrel, left side of the grip frame, and correctly handwritten in pencil on the interiors of the grips, with no further disassembly performed for viewing of the trigger guard lug number out of respect for the extremely high state of condition of this revolver. It is fitted with a threaded "pinched" blade front sight, frame-top groove rear sight, and a pair of smooth walnut grips. All of the major components are marked with single letter U.S. Ordnance sub-inspection marks including "L", "C", "M", "D", and "P", and there is a boxed "BH" (Benjamin Hannis) cartouche on the left grip panel.

Manufacturer: E. Remington & Sons

Model: New Model Army

BBL: 8 inch octagon

Gauge: 44

Finish: blue

Grips: walnut

Serial Number46708

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Excellent plus, as issued, retains 98% plus bright original blue finish, 99% vibrant original case colors on the hammer, 99% iridescent original nitre blue finish on the trigger, a bright golden appearance on the brass trigger guard, and absolutely sharp edges and markings in the metal overall. The grips are also excellent plus, with extremely well-defined edges, a few very minor nicks, and an exceptionally crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. This is quite possibly the best example we have ever offered at auction. A Remington New Model Army revolver that would make a superior addition to the finest of Civil War collections!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000