This revolver is in about Fine condition with 30 percent or better original finish and is one of 4,540 Remingtons altered by the company for Benjamin Kittredge of Cincinnati between September 1868 and April 1869 in a deal brokered by that firm between Remington and Smith and Wesson, who held Rollin White’s patent for a bored-through cylinder. The revolver is a Remington New Model Army, serial number 128072, giving it a January 1865 production date. The barrel shows full coverage of thinning blue with just some rubbing along the edges. The loading leaver has excellent color. The cylinder is a plum brown and frame is a mix of streaked blue and plum. The grips have good color and surface, good edges, a few handling marks and the number “5,” perhaps a rack number stamped on the bottom of the butt, and a very visible U.S. inspector’s cartouche on the left side.

This revolver is completely original, and follows the standard configuration for the serial number range and 1865 date in its 8-inch rectangular barrel, exposed barrel threads, pinched screw-in front sight, etc. All markings in the metal are crisp, including the small sub-inspector initials on various parts, and the three-line barrel address: “PATENTED SEPT. 14, 1858 / E. REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, NEW YORK, U.S.A. / NEW-MODEL.” The cylinder is the five-shot conversion cylinder used to take the slightly larger .46 caliber metallic cartridge and bears the date of White’s patent on the side: “PATENTED APRIL 3D 1855.” This fits the profile for the Type-1 style of conversion as outlined by Ware in both the presence of patent stamp and lack of a cartridge ejector. As is also correct, the capping groove was widened to form a loading channel and there is no loading gate. The underside of the barrel also bears the additional number “3105,” likely applied by Remington after the conversion or by Smith and Wesson, who subsequently inspected these pistols and were certainly interested in keeping track of them since they were receiving royalty payments. (Other examples are numbered also.)

The story, in brief, is that Remington approached Smith and Wesson for use of the bored-through cylinder early as 1865, but White baulked at the deal and it was not until 1867 that Kittredge, appreciating the market for a large caliber metallic cartridge pistol, and brokered a deal signed in February 1868 by which he supplied Remington pistols to Remington for conversion and paid a fee that was split between Remington for the work and Smith and Wesson as a royalty. (This kept Remington from producing new metallic cartridge guns or getting into government contracts for conversion. It was also timely for S&W, since White’s patent was going to expire in 1869.) After conversion they were sent by Remington for inspection to S & W, who shipped 3,391 to Kittredge, and another 1,149 to J.W. Storrs of New York City.

Kittredge seems to have drawn his guns from government surplus sales. Some show replaced grips and substantial refinishing with wear to the markings. This is an exceptionally nice example of this pattern and a perfect pistol for an early western collection. Not only did Remington get the jump on Colt, he was also ahead of Smith and Wesson themselves.  [sr] [ph:m]

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