Cessation of Revolver Production

It is odd that “the man who invented the revolver” kept his factory going by making single shot muskets. But deliveries from the Hartford works reveal a cessation of revolver production for the Government with a last delivery of 955 Colt’s holster pistols, new model, at $14; 155 of them being without bullet moulds at only $13.73. These arms were received November 10, 1863; no more are shown as bought by the North from

Military Navy Colt is US stamped on frame and bears inspection seal on grips. Backstrap of this pistol now owned by Tom Parvin of Illinois is inscribed to Col. Pleasants who was supervisor of the Crater mining in Union siege of Petersburg, Va. Pistol is said to have been presented to Pleasants while he was Provost Marshal of Lexington, Ky., by the “citizens.”

Placed across old photo of destroyed Colt’s Armory is bullet mould and London-stamped Pocket Model barrel, relics of fire salvaged from fused scrap. Old match box is symbolic of suspected Confederate arson though fire hazard conditions in factory made blaze of February, 1864, not totally unexpected.

that time forward. A great fire destroyed the pistol section of the factory, and collectors have thought the fire terminated production of the New Model Army revolver. But the fire was not until three months after the last of the New Model Armys had been made.