Starr, model 1858 da

[Zaydok Allen]

I have my eye on an old revolver listed as "STAR, MODEL 1858 DA, 454 CALIBER, Nickel Plated". The nickel looks to be in good condition, and Starr revolvers are not tremendously common.

However, in doing a bit of research, I can't seem to find any examples of this gun actually being produced nickeled. It also has a hammer and trigger that are case hardened, and all the examples of Star revolvers I've ever seen that were finished in the white had white hammers and triggers also.

I'm concerned the finish is just an after market add on that has destroyed the value, or that the trigger and hammer were taken from another gun to repair this one. Obviously original condition is important in collector's pieces. This seems too good to be true though. The factory numbers and lettering on the gun do not seem to have soft lines though, like one would expect on an aftermarket plating. However, I also don't see any yellow hue to the nickel like you expect on an old gun. The listing says the nickel is probably at least 100 years old, which leads me to believe it is not original again.

Anyone know anything about Starr Revolvers, or if nickel finishes were in fact offered? Is this just some franken gun that has been cobbled together and get passed off as a collector's piece.

 

[Jim K]

First off, it is "Starr" not "Star". No, I have never seen or heard of a factory nickel plated Starr; they were blued (or rather "blacked") with the same kind of "hard" black finish that Colt's of the same era usually have. It is a pretty safe bet that the finish is after market, probably long after the Civil War. The DA was made in .44 and .36, the SA only in .44.

Strictly speaking, the "DA's" are not really double action; they are of a separate class known as "trigger cockers" in which the trigger cocks the hammer but releases it only by engaging the single action sear.

In the Starr, with the "selector" in the up position, the trigger cocks the hammer and the SA sear engages, but is then released by the continued trigger movement, giving the same effect as true DA firing.

With the "selector" in the down position, the trigger cocks the hammer, but to fire single action the trigger must be released and the sear pressed with the finger. The gun cannot be cocked with the hammer; the short hammer spur is intended only to lower the hammer without firing. (Yes, I know the hammer can be thumb cocked if the trigger is pressed a little, but that is not the way it was designed.)

Jim

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Good info Jim. And thanks for the spelling correction. My mistake.

 

[barrynristle]

Hi,

As I understand it, the Starr DA Army and SA Army models were blued with a case hardened hammer and lever. I have an original SA and admittedly it is now all in white with no signs of blueing/case hardening left on it. Otherwise it as a good working example. Sorry for the considerable delay in commenting but I have only just become aware of this forum.

 

[RON in PA]

Is this possibly a modern production gun? Italian repos were/are produced.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Gents I appreciate the input but look at the dates on the thread. I started this well over a year ago. That gun is long gone.

 

[Walkalong]

Closed at OP's request