Series IV .36 caliber revolver manufactured by the Manhattan Fire Arms Manufacturing Co., of Newark, New Jersey c. 1865. The revolver has the distinctive five-shot cylinder with ten cylinder stops and tapered, flat sided, loading lever. The 6 1/2-inch octagon barrel has a nickel-silver, half-moon shaped, front sight. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "MANHATTAN FIRE ARMS CO. NEWARK N.J./PATENTED MARCH 8, 1864" in two lines. The cylinder is decorated with five detailed military scenes in oval panels surrounded by delicate floral sprays. "PATENTED/DEC 27.1858" is stamped on the rear of the cylinder between the percussion nipple cut-outs. The serial number, "58563" is visible on the bottom of the barrel lug, receiver, trigger guard and back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match. The revolver has a high polish blue finish on the barrel with color casehardened loading lever, frame and hammer. The brass oval trigger guard and back strap are silver-plated. The one piece grip is nicely figured walnut with a polished, 'piano' finish. The barrel lug, upper barrel flats, sides of the lever, frame, trigger guard and backstrap are covered with Germanic scroll work on a punch-dot background. The engraving appears to be identical to the two engraved Manhattan Series IV revolvers, serial number 58490 and 58491, illustrated on page 182 of "MANHATTAN FIREARMS" by Waldo E. Nutter. The high quality scroll engraving is very similar to the German Scroll engraving utilized on Colt revolvers in the 1860s. The two line Manhattan legend on the top of the barrels is located in a panel with scalloped borders.

Fine. The revolver retains traces of the original high polish blue and color casehardened finish in protected areas. The exposed surfaces have a smooth, plum brown, patina. The back strap has 75% of the nickel-plated finish and the trigger guard retains about 30% of the nickel-plated finish. The delicate military scenes in the oval panels on the cylinder are sharp. The well executed Germanic scroll work is deep and crisp. There is light to moderate flash pitting on the percussion nipples, front and rear face of the cylinder and sides of the hammer. The nicely figured, one-piece walnut grip retains most of the polished piano finish with minimal handling wear. The action is crisp and functions well. This is a fine, original, example of a rare Manhattan, Series IV .36 caliber revolver with factory engraving.