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MODEL 1858 STARR DOUBLE ACTION .44 CALIBER ARMY
REVOLVER – POST CIVIL WAR CARTRIDGE CONVERSION TO .45
COLT: One of the cartridge conversions of
percussion revolvers executed after the Civil War to
meet the demand for affordable cartridge revolvers on
the American Frontier, this Model 1858 STARR Company
Double Action Revolver was converted to the popular .45
Colt cartridge.
Starr Revolvers which were converted to metallic
cartridges are normally found in one of the .44 calibers
where the original 6 chamber cylinder was modified by
milling off the rear face to open the chambers and the
installation of breech plate which incorporated the
firing pin. Due to the amount of metal that would have
to be removed in order to enlarge the caliber to .45,
these original chambers were limited to one of the .44
caliber metallic cartridges of the time.
This example was modified by replacing the original six
chamber cylinder with a five chamber cylinder which
allowed for the larger .45 caliber cartridge. The
cylinder is well made, obviously by a skilled gunsmith,
with the notches well executed so that the revolver
indexes properly as the trigger is pulled, and recesses
milled into the rear of the chamber to accept the rim of
the cartridge. A breech block which holds the firing
pin was inlet into the frame, and the hammer face
modified accordingly.
With no loading gate, the revolver’s frame pin must be
removed, the barrel rotated away from the cylinder and
the cylinder removed from the central arbor in order to
reload – a cumbersome process by today’s standard, but
at the time, certainly much less time consuming than
loading separate paper cartridges and percussion caps
with all of the added benefits of fixed ammunition.
Cost was also a consideration during the early post-war
era as these converted surplus Starr revolvers were
considerably less expensive than the “top shelf” Colts
and Remingtons.
Showing the expected evidence of use, this Starr Double
Action revolver presents very well and is mechanically
sound. The revolver functions very well, the cylinder
indexes properly and the hammer-trigger function is very
crisp.
The metal surfaces retain traces of the original blue
finish, especially in the protected areas. The surface
of the metal is smooth with no damage or wear apparent.
The cylinder is likewise overall smooth with clean
bright chambers. The bore, having been enlarged to
accept the .45 caliber bullet, is not re-rifled after it
was bored out. While this is somewhat unusual,
apparently the maker, or the owner, or both didn’t feel
that the rifling was necessary for the purpose for which
the owner intended to use this pistol. The bore is
generally bright with some scattered spots of very minor
pitting.
The serial number is still present on the frame and
there is a numeral “4” stamped on the bottom of the
barrel, the face of the cylinder, and inside the frame –
probably an assigned assembly number during the
conversion process. There are “U –crown” proof marks
stamped on the barrel, frame and cylinder. The Starr
Company address and patent information is present on
each side of the frame below the cylinder cradle.
The one piece grip has some handling marks, but there
are no cracks or chips, no severe wear, and has an even
patina with an overall nice aged finish.
A very respectable and attractive Starr Double Action
Army Revolver which saw continued use after the war,
chambered for the most popular cartridge on the
frontier. This is an interesting example of one of the
many conversions in the American West, and one that
testifies that not every one carried a Colt or
Remington. $1475
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