Confederate Colt 1860 NMA

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Rick Bowles

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This 158 year old revolver is in amazing condition and it's a historically significant arm. #1818 is one of 500 shipped to Williams, Peters & Co. in Richmond, VA on April 15th.1861, two days after the surrender of Ft. Sumter. These 500 Colts are the only guns that can be authenticated, by serial number, as being issued to the Confederacy. There are only 55 known to remain and #1818 is in the top five for condition.

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Wow! That is one nice gun! Rare, in great condition.... what can I say?
Glad I have its twin as a Uberti repro ..... 'cause I don't even want to know what that one is worth!:)
 
WOW! That is simply amazing! Beautiful!

Is it yours? If so, you are indeed very lucky to have it. I'm jealous.
 
Beautiful looking original 1860 Colt with a verified early history, if only it could talk. I too have a reproduction Uberti with a fluted cylinder. I think they look more graceful with the fluted cylinder. Thanks for posting this wonderful gun.
 
A really beautiful piece. The 7.5” barrel probably gives it different handling characteristics than the standard eight-inch. Does it weigh less than an 1861? What did they use to plate the TG and back strap?
 
Amazing pistol, and the notches, just have to wonder.

What this also shows is that amorality of Corporations. Before the time of sale, and at the time of sale, Colt knew these pistols would be used in killing Union men, knew it would not be long before the Union Congress would pass weapon embargoes against the South, but, in that short time period before it was illegal, Colt sold these to make a profit. And Colt would have sold tens of thousands more, if not hundreds of thousands to the South, if Union legislation been slower.
 
A beautiful gun indeed.

This brief article explains how Sam Colt was a northern Democrat known as a "Copperhead".
Copperheads were anti-abolitionists who were against the election of Lincoln and believed that the southern states were the best customers of northern businesses.
Colt also pressured his workers to vote Democrat and fired pro-abolition, Republican activist workers.
He was also accused of bribing Washington officials in order to obtain government contracts.--->>> https://shoeleatherhistoryproject.com/2013/05/03/sam-colt/
 
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To add to arcticap's info for anyone who has succumbed to the revisionist history we are all exposed to, nearly every Confederate was a Democrat.
Yes, Colt put LOTS of pressure on his employees to vote for Democrats, so it's not a surprise that he could have Confederate sympathies to justify selling them arms.
Also worth noting that at the time of the Civil War succession was legal.
 
Rick Bowles

What an awesome piece of history in a Colt revolver! Thanks for sharing!
 
Like today everyone had opinions and affiliations. No matter how flat you make a pancake it still has two sides. Sam Colt was first and foremost a gun salesman and a competitor. War was declared on April 15 (the same day these 500 revolvers shipped) but my home state of Virginia didn't officially adopt an ordinance of secession until April 17th. 1861 which was ratified in a referendum held on May 23, 1861. Did Sam Colt "rush" the 500 NMA revolvers to Richmond? Probably but business is business and these were the last guns sold to the south by Colt.
 
In the photos, are the shoulder stock screws flush with the frame? They look to be.

With the 1860, because of the longer handles, most users don't contact those when shooting but with an 1861 many of us do. I'd be pleased to swap out the protruding screws with some that laid flat on the frame. Does anyone offer those commercially? VTI doesn't.
 
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