This extraordinary, early Colt Model 1860 Army revolver was manufactured in 1860, the first year of production, and is one of only 4,000 of this model manufactured with the full fluted cylinder within the first 8,000 serial numbers. Many early production Colt Model 1860 revolvers with fluted cylinders were sold to southern dealers before the outbreak of the Civil War and were used by Confederate soldiers making them particularly sought after by Civil War collectors, and there are several photographs of Confederate soldiers armed with these early Model 1860 Army revolvers. Given their use in the war, they are very hard to find in high condition. This revolver falls between serial numbers 923 and 959 which have been identified as part of a 500 gun order shipped to "Peter Williams & Co." in the future Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, on April 15, 1861. The Richmond "Daily Dispatch" on April 23, 1861, records: "The State Authorities seized 500 Army revolvers, belonging to Williams, Peter & Co., on Sunday. They were found at the Adams Express Company's office, in this city. The State pays for them, of course." These revolvers were shipped three days after the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter and on the same day that President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 men from the state militias to suppress the rebellion (with optimistic three-month enlistments) and called Congress into an emergency session to address the crisis. Shipments of arms to the South only remained legal for a few more days until Lincoln proclaimed a blockade on April 19. Virginia had voted to remain in the Union earlier the same month and was still part of the Union when the revolvers shipped, but the authorities had moved rapidly towards secession by April 17. Some of the Colts that letter as shipped elsewhere in early 1861 also found their way to the South less directly through middle men even after the blockade. Those that did not get purchased for use by the Confederacy would have largely been used by Union soldiers during the war. This exceptional revolver has seen some use, likely in the Civil War, but remains in very high condition and may have spent most of the conflict safe in its case, perhaps among the belongings of a Union or Confederate officer. The barrel has a nickel-silver blade front sight, the one-line "-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CT.-" barrel address, "2" on the left side of the lug, and the matching serial number "928" on the bottom. The wedge is also matching numbered. The fluted cylinder has the "PATENTED SEPT. 10th 1850" marking in one flute and the matching serial number "928" in another. The arbor pin has "928" as well. It has a "four-screw" frame (actually five but only four visible on each side) cut for a shoulder stock and marked with "COLTS/PATENT" on the left and the matching serial number "928" on the bottom. The silver plated brass grip straps have the matching serial number "928" at the front of the trigger guard and the toe, "S" and "C" on the left side of the trigger guard, and the slot on the heel for a shoulder stock. The varnished walnut grip has "928" in black ink near the top of the rear mortise. The case has red lining, an Eley Bros. cap tin, a cartridge pack, several lead balls, a double side Colt's patent powder flask with a short, angled spout; a blued Colt's patent dual cavity ball/bullet mold, and a key. Provenance: The Don and Carol Wilkerson Collection

Very fine. The grip frame retains 98% plus of the age darkened original silver plating. The frame retains 75% plus vivid original case colors with some fading on the recoil shield and very vibrant colors on the sides. The hammer screw has some minor wear, but most of the screws throughout are excellent. The hammer and loading lever retain 85% plus original casehardened finish with particularly fiery colors on the "web" of the loading lever. The fluted cylinder retains 60% plus of the original blue finish with some minor fading to brown patina, light pitting on and around the nipples indicating some use, tiny splotches of pitting by the serial number, and solid safety pins. The wedge spring is broken on the right end. The barrel has 50% of the period refinished blue and is exhibiting some fading to a lighter tone and some patches of light gray and brown patina and some faint pitting under the blue. The grip is excellent and has essentially all of the bright original glossy finish remaining, faint handling and storage marks, a few minor dings, and slight edge wear. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are fine and have some minor age and storage related wear. This is a very attractive and rare case fluted cylinder Colt Model 1860 Army revolver. Colt debuted this model just before the outbreak of the war, and it became the primary revolver of the Civil War. Thousands of Model 1860 Army revolvers were used by men fighting on both sides of the conflict, and a large portion of these early revolvers found their way to the South. No matter where its been, this revolver is certainly among the finest fluted cylinder '60 Armies out there and would be a fine addition to any Colt collection.