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MODEL 1863 STARR ARMS SINGLE ACTION .44 CALIBER
ARMY REVOLVER – US ARMY ISSUE WITH CARTOUCHES –
EXCELLENT SPECIMEN:
This is an excellent
example of the Model 1863 Starr Arms Company Single
Action Army Revolver, featuring 85% of the original blue
and legible US Ordnance Department cartouches on both
sides of the grip. An improvement on the design of the
Model 1858 Starr Arms Double Action Army Revolver, with
simpler and less costly mechanics, the Model 1863 Starr
Single Action was - following Colts and Remingtons - the
third-most model of revolver purchased by the US
Government during the Civil War. With just over 25,000
Model 1863 Single Action .44 caliber Army Revolvers
purchased by the federal government, they were issued to
soldiers in some 43 regiments of Union cavalry.
Showing very little evidence of having been issued or
carried, this Starr Single Action revolver is far and
away more attractive than what is normally offered on
the market, and it presents in excellent condition. The
mechanics of
this pistol are likewise excellent - the
cylinder indexes properly,
the timing is exact,
and the hammer-trigger function is very crisp -
“as tight as a
clock”. As evidence of how little use this pistol was
subjected to, the thumb screw that secures the frame and
the mortise where the top strap rests in the rear of the
frame are both very tight with no play.
The matching serial number – 39728 – is present and
legible on the frame, the cylinder, and the barrel, as
well as the inspectors’ initials “B”, “C”, and “M” on
the barrel, cylinder, frame and trigger guard. The
Starr Company address and patent information is present
and legible on each side of the frame below the cylinder
cradle.
The one piece grip retains the cartouches on both sides
– fully legible on both sides, with some very minor wear
to the middle initial in the left side cartouche. These
cartouches confirm that this pistol was indeed accepted
by the US Army. The grip has some handling marks, but
is overall smooth with a nice finish and naturally aged
color.
The metal surfaces are very smooth with no damage or
significant wear apparent.
The bore is excellent,
with bright, shiny surfaces in the lands and grooves,
clear strong rifling throughout, and no pitting.
The cylinder is likewise overall smooth with
clean chambers, the face of the cylinder is smooth with
no pitting from being fired, and all of the percussion
cones are full form with no peening from being dry
fired.
The pistol presents with much of
the original blued finish intact – probably 85% or
more. There is some fading and freckling to the blued
finish on the upper surfaces of the barrel, the top
strap of the frame, and the grip strap where the pistol
wore against the holster leather or from handling. The
balance of the pistol retains an overall consistent blue
color. There is no evidence of the pistol having been
heavily polished and there is no alteration of the
profiles or dulling of the sharp edges.
The photos accurately
reflect the condition with no hidden blemishes or
problems.
As noted, this is a well above
average specimen of a Starr Single Action Army Revolver
with all of the proper government inspector stamps. It
is very attractive and would be very hard to upgrade.
This is a very respectable example of one of the key
revolvers of the Civil War and early Indian Wars
Cavalry.
(0606) $4350
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