This set received silver medal 122 at the National Rifle Association Annual Meeting. Cased sets of Starr Arms Co. revolvers are incredibly scarce. Only a few are known. The revolvers feature beautiful period acanthus scroll, floral, and border engraving; silver plating, and checkered grips. The other markings and features are standard. They come in a rosewood case with wine colored lined interior closely fit to the revolvers and the accessories which are: a package of cartridges, silver plated eagle powder flask, more recent screwdriver that coordinates well with the grips, bullet mold with wooden handle, silver plated oiler, and cap tin. The lid has a blank brass escutcheon. This elaborate set was obviously made for a special purpose. Many of the ornate Civil War handguns were presented to influential military officers and politicians. Given the serial numbers of this pair are early (this model started around serial number 23000), it is possible they were used as a gift/bribe for a person of influence who could help the company with its significant government contracts. They may have also been designed for display or sale at one of the United States Sanitary Commission fairs held in cities in the North to raise funds for caring for wounded and sick soldiers. The fair in Chicago in 1863 in particular was elaborate and included displays of weapons among the wares, and the company is documented as donating to the fairs. Starr Arms Co. had factories in Yonkers and Binghampton, New York, made massive investments to manufacture rifles, carbines, and revolvers to supply Union troops but had issues meeting the deadlines of their contracts earlier in the war which led to the serious risk of the government canceling contracts which would have ruined the company. These single action revolvers were designed for the Ordnance Department because they were cheaper and easier to manufacture. Their simpler design was also more reliable. Around 25,000 of them were purchased by the U.S. government. Together with the Model 1858 double action Starr revolvers, they were third most widely used revolvers during the war after only those manufactured by Colt and Remington. Like many other arms companies, the Starr Arms Co. collapsed shortly after the war when government contracts were no longer available to keep them afloat.

Very fine with 70% original silver plating remaining and exhibiting mild aged patina, loss mostly on the barrel and cylinder, gray patina and light pitting on the exposed metal, crisp markings and engraving, and general minor marks and scratches. The grip is also very good and has distinct checkering, some minor age cracks, and attractive natural aged tones. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are fine and have mild age and storage related wear including some small pieces absent from the corners of the case, missing screws from the flask, and mild pitting on the bullet mold. The oiler has a dark, bluish patina.

See "A."

Very fine with 60% original silver plating remaining and exhibiting attractive aged patina, smooth silver-gray patina on the faded areas which are mainly the barrel and cylinder, some faint pitting, crisp markings and engraving, and general mild wear. The grip is also very good and has a couple of worn spots in the otherwise crisp checkering, minor age cracks, attractive natural aged coloration and grain, and light handling and storage wear. Mechanically excellent. This is an incredibly rare pair of revolvers. Cased sets of Starr revolvers are almost unheard of, and this pair is certainly among the finest.