This is a very nice Starr 1858 double action revolver in fine or near excellent condition with better than 30 percent original finish, crisp markings, and nice wood showing inspector cartouches on either side of the lower grip. The barrels shows thin blue remaining from the muzzle about half way back to the cylinder and more substantial and darker blue on both sides of the frame under and behind the cylinder. The markings are very good: serial number on cylinder; Starr. Arms. Co. New. York. on the left frame, and the Starr patent stamp right frame.

The wood has excellent color, a tight fit to the metal, and good edges to the top flats and around the heel. Cartouches are visible on both sides. There are a few minor and shallow impact dings on butt flat, but no chips, cracks or divots. All metal, with or without finish is smooth. The pistol is complete and all original.

The Starr Arms Company in Binghamton, NY, was the third largest supplier of revolvers to the U.S government in the Civil War. The company delivered 16,100 of these .44 caliber double action revolvers on contract from January 1862 to mid-1863, and another 4,950 in May 1864 on a separate purchase agreement, for a total of 21,050. Non-governmental sales are estimated at 2,000, for a total production run of about 23,000. This one is serial number 15246, putting it toward the end of the first contract or about mid-1863. Records do not always distinguish between these early double-action .44 caliber Starr revolvers and their later single action pistols, but units known to have carried Starr revolvers include the following cavalry units: 1^st NH; 7^th Michigan; 12^th NY; 2^nd Ohio; 1^st VT; 1^st MO; 8^th PA, 14^th PA; 13^th TN; 1^st WI; 8^th KY 1^st CO; 16^th IL; 2^nd IN; and many others.

This is a very nice example of a regulation Union cavalry trooper’s pistol.  [SR]

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