This interesting Bacon Manufacturing Company revolver was produced under Thomas K. Bacon after he left Manhattan Firearms to start his second of three attempts to form a successful firearms company of his own. This example is a Series I or Excelsior which is essentially a copy of a Manhattan model, manufactured from the late 1850s to the late 1860s with less than a thousand estimated to have been produced. The top barrel flat is marked "BACON MANUF'G OC(sic)/NORWICH CT" with scroll engraving on the frame. The 5-shot cylinder has five sporting vignettes; three with a hunter, one with a male elk, and one with a reposed female elk. Matching serial number on the underside of the barrel, the loading lever, the loading lever catch, on the wedge, and on the frame under the left grip panel. It was finished blue with a casehardened loading lever and fitted with smooth varnished walnut grips with a faint "10" marking on the butt of the left panel.

Extremely fine. The pistol retains 95% plus of the original finish on the barrel, 75% on the cylinder, and 40% on the frame and grip straps with a mixture of brown and aged gray patina on the exposed surfaces and some minor scratches and marks. The case colors are clearly visible on the loading arm and lever. The engraving is crisp and clear. The grips are very fine with some minor wear of the varnish on right panel and lower left. Mechanically excellent.