U.S. contract Colt M1860 Army revolver manufactured in 1862. The revolver has a three-screw frame with stock cut-outs in the recoil shields and back strap. The barrel, cylinder and back strap have the military blue finish and the loading lever, frame and hammer are casehardened. The trigger guard is brass and the one-piece walnut grip has an oil finish. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the standard Texas Navy battle scene and stamped "COLTS PATENT NO." and "PAT. SEPT 10TH 1850". The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line legend: "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S.AMERICA-". "COLTS/PATENT" is stamped in two lines on the left side of the frame. "K", "M" or "H" Ordnance sub-inspection marks are stamped on most components. The full serial number is stamped on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "2280" is stamped on the cylinder, arbor pin and wedge. All of the visible serial numbers match. An Ordnance inspection mark that consists of three script letters surrounded by an oval is stamped on the lower left side of the grips and a similar two-letter final inspection mark is stamped on the lower right side. The Colt M1860 Army revolver was the primary handgun issued to Federal cavalry regiments during the Civil War and it remained the primary cavalry revolver until the adoption of the Colt Model 1873 Cavalry Revolver.

Fine. The revolver retains 60% of the original military blue finish on the barrel and 40% on the cylinder. The back strap has 30% of the original blue finish. The cylinder retains nearly all of the roll-engraved scene with sharp patent markings. The cylinder safety pins are intact but battered and the percussion nipples and rear face of the cylinder show moderate flash pitting. The barrel lug has the typical small dents and hammer marks around the right side of the wedge slot. The loading lever, frame and hammer have 60% of the original casehardened finish with strong case colors. There is light-moderate flash pitting on the sides and face of the hammer. The oil-finished walnut grip remains in fine condition; wear is primarily confined to small dents on edges of the butt. The ordnance inspection marks are clear and legible. Two illegible initials are period scratched on the right side of the butt. The action is crisp and functions perfectly.