When we think of Confederate revolvers we generally envision six guns like Leech & Rigdon, Spiller & Burr or the revolvers of the Dance Brothers. Of course, almost any handgun of the period of the War Between the States certainly could qualify, since so many rebel soldiers used whatever guns were available to them. With the exception of battle prizes, Colt’s revolvers would not normally be considered as Confederate. Colt was however among several Northern arms companies to sell to the Southern states, including their first 100 1860 models to their agent in Columbus, Georgia, on November 30, 1860, and at least one documented shipment of 1860s to the Confederate States War Department on April 15, 1861—a mere week after Fort Sumter was fired upon.
Known among collectors as the McCulloch 1860 Army Colts, these Hartford-produced .44 caliber percussion six-shooters definitely have a Confederate-linked history. When the 1860 Army, then dubbed the “New Army Model” was introduced in mid-1860, the first 4,000 guns were turned out with fully fluted (non-rebated) cylinders sans roll engraved cylinder scenes. This was done to reduce weight and they were referred to by Colt as “Cavalry” models. Other than their fluted cylinders, these ’60 models were just like the standard fully round, rebated cylinder guns with the roll-engraved naval battle scene, an eight-inch round barrel with the rack, and pinion “creeping” loading lever and the military-style four-screw frame with a cutout on the heel of the grip (for attaching a shoulder stock). Serial numbers of the McCulloch Colts range from 200 to 4700, with most above 2000. They would have had plain walnut stocks, been finished with a blued barrel, cylinder and trigger, a color case hardened frame, lever and hammer and a brass trigger guard and back strap.
