SCARCE JOSLYN REVOLVER

SCARCE JOSLYN REVOLVER

Hover to zoom

Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Image 6 Image 7 Image 8 Image 9

$2,500.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1268-207

These 5-shot, .44 caliber revolvers with side hammers were the invention of B.F. Joslyn and bear his patent stamp on the top flat of octagon barrel near the breach: “B.F. JOSLYN. / PATD MAY 4TH 1858.” The very noticeable side hammer permitted the cylinder pin to be easily removed by unscrewing it at the rear of the frame, thus freeing the cylinder, but his real innovation was in the method of rotating the cylinder. See McAulay, CW Pistols, for details. Total production is estimated at just 3,000, with the first 500 or so manufactured at the shop of Joslyn’s agent, William Freeman, and the remainder produced by Joslyn at his own factory in Stonington, CT, starting about September 1861. Government purchases were made on the open market. Known orders include 100 by the US Navy and 1,100 by the Army, though some secondary sources indicate the Navy received some of the Army’s pistols as well, perhaps raising their total to 225 or so, and more pistols certainly ended up in Army hands through state or private purchases. See the list of units carrying them below.

These pistols used a blued finish, with case hardened loading lever and hammer. Some very early and very late production guns had a metal buttcap. A few very early ones have brass triggerguards. Standard models, like this, use an iron triggerguard. All the metal is smooth. The patent stamps and serial numbers, 1109, are distinct. This preserves a good deal of thin, original blue on the flats of the barrel, mixed with some thin brown and with silver-gray showing along the edges from natural wear. The loading lever shows some mottled bluish gray from case color, with even stronger color on the plunger. Frame, cylinder, triggerguard and grip straps show as a muted silver-gray with some thin brown stains. The hammer shows as caramel brown. The mechanics are good. The nipples are not battered. Front sight is in place. The only defect we see is a short hairline on the top of the frame toward the front from the sighting groove to the right edge. The grips have a pleasing dark brown color. They do show some shallow dings and divots at the top and bottom of the sides, but preserve the standard production, factory checkering- an unusual touch on a martial pistol.

Union cavalry regiments known to have carried Joslyn revolvers at some point in their service included the 16th Illinois, 3rd and 7th Indiana, 7th Kansas, 1st Missouri, 10th Michigan, 5th and 6th Ohio, and the 3rd Minnesota Infantry when they were converted to mounted service. The pistols issued to the two Ohio cavalry units apparently came from pistols sent to the state by the US government and 775 more purchased by the state. Of these, the 5th Ohio’s use may be the best known due to a world-class photograph of four of their members, fully armed, with a central seated figure showing off his Joslyn by jamming it in his belt, a photo from the renowned collection of Ronn Palm, and published in several secondary sources, including McAulay’s volume on CW revolvers. Some of the revolvers carried by those other units may in fact have come from that lot since 675 were turned in to US Ordnance by the 5th Ohio after a disappointing performance at Shiloh in April 1862.

This is one of the tougher to find US Cavalry issue Civil War revolvers.  [sr][ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!

Inquire About SCARCE JOSLYN REVOLVER

should be empty