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LOT 1225
Scarce Civil War Era Joslyn Army Model
Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 2022, 44 cal., 8 inch
octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Only about 3,000 Army Model
revolvers were manufactured in 1861 and 1862 by the Joslyn Firearms
Company in Stonington, Connecticut. The Joslyn is one of the scarcest of
all the revolvers used by the Union Army and Navy. 1,100 Joslyns were purchased on the open
market and primarily issued to Ohio units including the 5th and 6th Ohio Cavalry. Dovetailed
blade front sight, a sighting groove in the top strap. “B.F. JOSLYN/PATD, MAY 4TH 1858.” on top
of the barrel at the breech. The full serial number is marked on the butt, butt cap, bottom of
the barrel, loading lever, and stamped inside each grip panel. The bottom of the frame and the
loading lever are marked with a “B”, which is likely a government ordnance inspector marking
CONDITION: Very good, showing a mix of grey and brown patina overall with some light flash pitting and some
mild holster wear on the edges of the barrel. The grip is fine with a few scattered minor dings and mostly well-
defined checkering. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1226
Very Scarce Two Digit Serial Number Savage & North
Figure 8 First Model Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 35, 36 cal., 7 inch
octagon bbl., brass/nickel finish, walnut grips. This is a rare early Savage &
North second variation of the First Model, “Figure 8” revolver that was one
of 250 manufactured around 1856. Total production of all Figure 8 revolvers
is believed to be around 500. This example has the standard address and patent
marking on the top of the barrel and the matching serial number on the loading lever, trigger
guard screw, inside both grip panels, cylinder pin, recoil shield, and some internal components. It
has a brass cone front sight and a notch rear sight. These early Savage revolvers were redesigned and
became the more widely used Savage Navy model manufactured during the Civil War and purchased
by the U.S. government.
CONDITION: Good, showing attractively aged patina on the brass, mixed grey and brown patina on the
iron, and some patches of pitting. The grips are also good with scratches, cracks, and edge damage.
Mechanically fine, though the cocking lever must be manually reset. This revolver is absent in most
American collections and will certainly fill the usually absent slot!
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1227
Fine Civil War Era Commercial Starr
Model 1858 Army Double Action Percussion
Revolver - Serial no. 4135B, 44 cal., 6 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. An estimated 23,000 of these revolvers
were manufactured in the late 1850s and early 1860s, with most
being purchased by the U.S. Government, making examples
like this one that appear to have been sold on the commercial
market relatively scarce. It is quite possible, and maybe even probably, that the majority of
these commercially sold Starr revolvers were privately purchased by soldiers for use during
the Civil War as an alternative to the prolific Colts and Remingtons. This example has the
standard “STARR. ARMS. Co. NEW. YORK.” address on left side of frame and “STARR’S PATENT
JAN. 15, 1856” on the right. The serial numbers throughout match, and there appear to be no
inspector’s marks on any components, including the unnumbered one piece walnut grip, that
shows significantly finer figure than standard production examples.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the original blue finish and traces of original case colors on the loading lever and
hammer with the balance a mix of grey and brown patina and some patches of speckled light pitting/oxidation.
The highly figured grip is also fine with some scattered light dings and scratches, including a series of minor
hammering dings on the butt. Mechanically functions in double action.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 1224
Exceedingly Scarce Civil War Era Butterfield Army
Model Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 189, 41 cal., 7 inch octagon
bbl., blue/bright finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1862, these Butterfield revolvers were
produced by Jesse Butterfield of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are considered by collectors to
be secondary U.S. martial handgun since they were manufactured in anticipation of an unrealized
government contract that was believed to have been for 2,280 revolvers. With no contract
awarded, production was limited to only about 640
revolvers, making them incredibly hard to acquire on
the collectors market. It is equipped with a special disc
priming device loaded by loosening a thumb-screw
in front of the trigger guard. The top strap is marked
“BUTTERFIELD’S/PATENT DEC 11. 1855/PHILADA”.
Various components are marked with the matching
serial number “189” including on the bottom surface of
both grip panels.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retains 30% of the original
blue finish with the balance mostly a grey patina with some light pitting, and the fine brass shows an attractively
aged patina overall. The grips are good with hairline cracks in the butts of both panels and some scattered minor
dings throughout. Mechanically fine. A scarce revolver that would fill a gap in many of the most extensive Civil
War revolver collections!
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000