Model 1860 Army revolvers with full fluted cylinders are only found among the first 8,000 produced. This example was manufactured in 1860 (the first year of production). The revolver has a .44 caliber barrel that is 8 inches long. Both 7 1/2 inch and 8 inch barrels were manufactured for the fluted cylinder variation. Generally, the 7 1/2 inch barrel was part of the early production run of the fluted cylinder Model 1860 revolvers. The top of the barrel has the one line Hartford address. The left side of the frame is marked "COLTS/PATENT." The patent date marking appears on one of the cylinder flutes. A small letter "B" is stamped on the left side of the barrel lug. (This appears to be the only visible inspection mark on the revolver.) The matching serial number is marked on the cylinder, barrel lug, frame and grip straps, and the correct partial serial number "105" is on the barrel wedge. The trigger guard is brass, and the back strap is iron; both are silver plated. The four screw frame is cut for a shoulder stock, and the stock is included. The varnished shoulder stock has silver plated brass mountings and is numbered "78506" on the crescent buttplate tang. A leather sling is also with the stock. The Model 1860 Army was the primary revolver used by the Union during the Civil War and were considerably more streamlined than Colt's earlier Dragoon and Walker revolvers. No factory letter is available to writer, so a buyer would possibly benefit from acquiring one as many early 1860 Armies were shipped to the South prior to the Civil War.

Very good plus. The revolver has traces of blue with a smooth crisp dark patina on the balance with some light spotting. There is bright original blue visible under the loading lever on the bottom of the barrel. The grip straps retain half of the original silver plating. The grip is very good showing a stock hardware indentation towards the top, high edge wear and some scattered minor handling marks with much of the finish remaining. Mechanically fine. The sling is good with age cracking overall. The shoulder stock is fine with crude period replacement attaching hardware retaining 80% original silver plating and a number of minor pressure marks and scratches on the wood. A rear sling swivel is missing, and the threaded fastener is a replacement.