This is a very fine example of a U.S. contract percussion revolver that was manufactured by Rogers, Spencer & Co., of Willow Dale, New York in 1865. The Rogers & Spencer Co., was awarded a contract by the Ordnance Department for 5,000 .44 caliber revolvers in November, 1864. When the Civil War ended in April, 1865, 1,500 revolvers had been delivered; the remaining 3,500 were delivered by September 1865. The revolvers were apparently never issued and were subsequently sold by military surplus dealer Francis Bannerman. This well designed revolver has a full octagon barrel with nickel-silver cone front sight. The solid frame has a sighting groove on the top strap. The revolver has a six-shot cylinder with safety notches between the chambers. 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 have a dark color casehardened finish. The top strap is roll-stamped: "RODGERS & SPENCER/UTICA, N.Y." on either side of the sight groove. The serial number, "1934" 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 on each component. The lower left grip is stamped with an Ordnance inspection mark which consists of the script initials "RBP" enclosed in a rectangle.

Very fine. The revolver retains 70% of the original high polish blue and color casehardened finishes. The blue on the top and sides of the barrel is thin while the bottom flat has nearly all of the finish. The frame has about 80% of the blue finish with high-point wear, light scratches and some traces of flash pitting on the top strap above the percussion nipples. Most of the blue finish is present on the cylinder. The percussion nipples and adjacent portions of the cylinder show some light flash pitting. The blue finish on the grips straps is thin. The hammer and trigger retain nearly all of the dark color casehardened finish. The case colors on the exposed areas of the loading lever have faded to a brown patina. The grips are in very fine condition with a raised grain and extremely sharp Ordnance inspection mark. The top strap legend, serial numbers and Ordnance sub-inspection marks are all sharp. The action functions perfectly. This is a solid representative example of a U.S. contract Civil War Rogers & Spencer Army Model revolver.