This early Colt Model 1860 Army was manufactured in 1861 and has the highly desirable early full fluted cylinder. While over 200,000 Army Model revolvers were manufactured, only around 4,000 were manufactured with fluted cylinders, making this variation especially desirable. Some of these distinctive Colts were even shipped to the South before and at the very beginning of the Civil War. Of the small amount of these fluted cylinder revolvers made, most of them were no doubt heavily used during the war, making surviving examples particularly scarce. This example features the one-line New York barrel address, "COLTS/PATENT" frame marking, frame cut for a shoulder stock, a cylinder flute with the 1850 patent date marking, and matching serial numbers on the frame, barrel, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, wedge (renumbered), and cylinder arbor pin. It comes with a brown leather flap holster attributed by the consignor as a Confederate product. It has no visible markings.

Very good. The iron displays gray and brown patina, some applied artificial brown, and patches of mild pitting. The cylinder has replaced safety pins. The trigger guard has traces of original silver plating around the bow and attractive aged patina overall. The grip is also very good and has mild handling and storage wear, minor lower edge wear, and a small chip by the toe on the left. Mechanically excellent. The shortened holster is fine with mild age and storage related wear including some loose stitching and general mild scratches.