Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Trying to get some decent info on a gun

[MarkEkberg]

Got this from my father, and the story on this gun seemed to have a life of its own through the years. My fathers memory is shot at this point so no telling what he would tell me about it now.

Here is the best I can determine based on years of info.

Gun started life in civil war.

Was converted from ball/powder to cartridge during Spanish American War. Was also last time it was used.

My grandfather filled barrel with lead. He hated guns, but for some reason kept this one when it was given to him.

My father had lead removed many years ago, but had never fired the gun.

There are no markings I can find on it anywhere. Looks like and measures to be a 45 cal. I did not mic it.

Just trying to figure out if I have a cool wall hanger, or should this thing be appraised and insured? I have done some looking for pictures of it, but not found a good match?

Someone here must know more than I do?

 

[n7gxz]

Looks to be an 1858 Remington new Army from what I can tell. Looks to be missing the shell ejector, a rod that pushes out the spent shell.

Kevin

 

[MarkEkberg]

Nope. Shell ejector is there, just on the other side.

Now that I know what it is I can try to figure out if this is this something that is valuable or just a wall hanger.

Thanks!

 

[GHarman]

Specifically, this looks like a cartridge conversion on an 1858 Remington. The originals were Cap and Ball. The lever under the barrel seated the ball over the powder. In this case? It looks like it is not being used because the ball seating punch is not long enough to eject a spent case. A shell ejector on the left side of the barrel, does not make sense because the cases were commonly loaded and ejected on the right side. Note the open "gate"! (L&R designations with the barrel pointed away from the shooter)
GregH

 

[GHarman]

A little investigation into this brings up some information about a possible factory conversion available. Other conversions were also done.
From Wiki;

Metallic cartridge conversions[edit]

Remington Conversion cal .46 RF

Remington Conversion, Rollin White Patent
In 1868, Remington began offering five shot metallic cartridge conversions of the revolver in .46 rimfire. Remington paid a royalty fee to Smith & Wesson, owners of the Rollin White patent (#12,648, April 3, 1855) on bored-through revolver cylinders for metallic cartridge use. The Remington Army cartridge-conversions were the first large-caliber cartridge revolvers available, beating even Smith & Wesson's .44 American to market by nearly two years.

Due to the large volume of these pistols, individual gunsmiths also produced cartridge conversions (from cap and ball versions) in a variety of calibers such as .44-40 and .45 Colt.[1][8]

 

[GHarman]

Course, this is only a SWAG! Without being able to see more than just a single view of the resolver. Heres some more Wiki goodies;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.46_rimfire

 

[MarkEkberg]

Found it, now that I know what I was looking for. Mine looks to be in better shape that this one. Not sure if it is fireable. Going to head to a recommended gun smith this weekend to see. Don't want to fire it on a regular basis, but it would be neat if a 155 year old revolver can still make some fire.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=505280038

 

[MarkEkberg]

Ok Ok. Going to try and put up some more pic's. Not sure what I can upload here? There seems to be lettering on the top of the barrel that I can not make out without a mag glass. I am also concerned with the flaw on the left side of the frame, but I have to assume those things happened during the Civil War? I mic'd it this evening and came up with something close to a .38, which would have made it a New Navy gun v/s New Army.

 

[GHarman]

Good Pictures! An unfortunate flaw in cast iron frames of the time. The Rollin White Patent included the 38 RF and .38 CF conversions to the Navy model.
Thank YOU for taking the time to add these Photos! The firing pin on the hammer looks like Rim Fire conversion because it is so offset and it looks peened over from dry firing! Don't dry fire this piece! It will also ding up the cartridge rim recess or the back of the cylinder at the chamber. Is that serial # 23559? Could be early production? Seeing #9XXXX being Mfgd in 1864.
Heres a source but Ya have to join up!
GregH
http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/

 

[GHarman]

Manufacturing date guideline; http://www.remingtonsociety.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20986

 

[MarkEkberg]

Looks like on the low end valued at $200 and on the high end $2000.

Might be more if it can fire. We will see this weekend.

 

[GHarman]

Nice Period piece, no matter what the value is. However, I would take it to a Remington Collector and have it appraised. Get the appraisal in writing, find out when it was made. If possible to whom is was shipped, et al. That documentation increases the value of Your piece! That is certainly more complicated than it sounds. However it would be worth Your time!
Regards!
GregH