Description

The Model 1858 was so named because it was the year Remington purchased the revolver’s original Patent from Fordyce Beals. Remington however, did not produce the revolver in mass until 1862. The revolver had an octagonal barrel with fixed sights and sometimes was produced with a brass frame by the south due to a shortage of steel. There are a few huge advantages that this revolver had over other designs of its time; including – a “top strap,” which refers to the metal casing over the cylinder which supported durability and accuracy over time, swappable cylinders which allowed for quicker reloading and safety-notches in the cylinder that the hammer rested in when not in use. These notches were significant since hammers on other revolvers rested on the rounds in the cylinder; which was a liability if the gun was dropped or hit hard enough to set off the round. Being a direct competitor to the Colt Army Model 1860, the Model 1858s were considered the finest revolvers during the civil war and was highly sought after by troops on both sides. From 1862 until production ceased in 1872, many companies made revolvers based on the proven Remington Model 1858 design.