U.S. contract .44 caliber percussion revolver manufactured by Rogers, Spencer & Co., of Willow Dale, New York in 1865. In November 1864, the Ordnance Department awarded a contact to the Rogers & Spencer Co., for 5000 .44 caliber revolvers. By the end of the Civil War in April 1865, Rodgers & Spencer had delivered 1500 revolvers. The remaining 3500 were delivered to the Ordnance Department by September 1865. The revolvers were never issued and were subsequently sold to Francis Bannerman. This well designed revolver has a full octagon barrel with nickel-silver cone front sight. The solid frame has a top strap sight groove. The six-shot cylinder has a safety notches between each chamber. The two-piece walnut grips have a flared butt. The revolver barrel, frame, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap have a high polish blue finish and the loading lever, hammer and trigger are color case-hardened. The top strap is roll-stamped: "RODGERS & SPENCER/ UTICA, N.Y." on either side of the sight groove. The serial number, "4472" is stamped on the underside of the barrel, loading lever, cylinder and bottom of the back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match. Small Ordnance "B" sub-inspection marks are stamped one each component. The lower left grip is stamped with an Ordnance inspection mark which consists of the script initials "RPB" enclosed in a rectangle.

Very fine. The revolver retains 75% plus of the original high polish blue finish. Wear is limited to some small spots of flaking on the sides of the barrel and the back strap. The cylinder has the usual turn marks with light edge wear. The hammer and loading lever have nearly all of the muted color casehardened finish intact. The cylinder and percussion nipples are free from flash pitting. The two piece walnut grip has nearly all the original oil finish and has a nearly perfect Ordnance inspection mark; wear is limited to several minor handling marks and nicks in the edge of the butt. The action functions fine. This is a very fine example of arguably one of the best designed Civil War percussion revolvers.