1858 Remington

[N5494]

Hello all.

My name is Scott and I am a collector of Civil War cavalry uniforms and equipment. I'm looking for information relative to Remington revolvers issued to Federal cavalry troops. As a result, I'm asking for some help with this pistol's past.

Years ago, I acquired a 1858 New Model Army revolver bearing serial number 81460. I'm kinda estimating a mid-year (1864) manufacturing date? The gun is fully intact with Inspector's marks, although showing rough wear about the cylinder. At the time of acquisition, I was told the pistol was issued to a Trooper from "mid country" likely Ohio, Iowa or Illinois. More importantly, the Union Trooper was identified with the unique last name of Buckhanon.

Could you please point me in the right direction with identifying which State/Regiment this pistol may have been issued to by the Ordinance Department.

Thanks for looking, Scott

 

[UCVRelics]

Hello all.

My name is Scott and I am a collector of Civil War cavalry uniforms and equipment. I'm looking for information relative to Remington revolvers issued to Federal cavalry troops. As a result, I'm asking for some help with this pistol's past.

Years ago, I acquired a 1858 New Model Army revolver bearing serial number 81460. I'm kinda estimating a mid-year (1864) manufacturing date? The gun is fully intact with Inspector's marks, although showing rough wear about the cylinder. At the time of acquisition, I was told the pistol was issued to a Trooper from "mid country" likely Ohio, Iowa or Illinois. More importantly, the Union Trooper was identified with the unique last name of Buckhanon.

Could you please point me in the right direction with identifying which State/Regiment this pistol may have been issued to by the Ordinance Department.

Thanks for looking, Scott

Sounds like an interesting Remington. If you could post some photos to include the serial # and makers marks and any cartouche's that are on the grips we can take a look and see what we can fine out for you. Also, is the provenance verbal?

 

[Story]

Thanks for looking, Scott

pics, Scott?

 

[johan_steele]

I would suggest spending some time on the NARA soldiers and sailors database and see if you can find anyone with that last name.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Scott, you'll find that this fellows name could be Buchanon or Bucanon or any number of other variarions

 

[N5494]

Sounds like an interesting Remington. If you could post some photos to include the serial # and makers marks and any cartouche's that are on the grips we can take a look and see what we can fine out for you. Also, is the provenance verbal?

The pedigree is only verbal but, came from a family member who was an IBM engineer and very detail oriented. Seemed to have the Ring of Truth including that he was very specific the last name was Buckhanon and not the more common Buchannon. Photos of pistol are poor as far as stamping and cartouche, both being worn by time and rough use. Photo of grips also show a decent field grade repair. If I could get State/Regiment issue information I could likely hone in the Trooper's full name. Note: The serial number 81460 under the loading lever shows an upside-down stamped numeral 1. Must have been stamped at the end of a long day at the factory!

Thanks for looking, Scott

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

The Donald Ware book show 81460 as being built in June of 1864. I don't think there is any way to find out to what unit it was issued.

 

[UCVRelics]

The pedigree is only verbal but, came from a family member who was an IBM engineer and very detail oriented. Seemed to have the Ring of Truth including that he was very specific the last name was Buckhanon and not the more common Buchannon. Photos of pistol are poor as far as stamping and cartouche, both being worn by time and rough use. Photo of grips also show a decent field grade repair. If I could get State/Regiment issue information I could likely hone in the Trooper's full name. Note: The serial number 81460 under the loading lever shows an upside-down stamped numeral 1. Must have been stamped at the end of a long day at the factory!

Thanks for looking, Scott

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Nice Remington even with the right side grip repair. Its a 3 line model 1861. The cartouche is not readable so we can't tell you who the inspector was. Below are the Remington's in the 81 range in the SRS. Keep in mind that if its not listed, its not listed and nothing can be read into it.

81012 A 65CO I 5TH ILL VOL CAV
81222 A 65CO I 5TH ILL VOL CAV
81234 A 65CO I 5TH ILL VOL CAV
81461 A 65CO I 5TH ILL VOL CAV
81669 64CO K 16TH MO VOL CAV
81802 64CO K 16TH MO VOL CAV
81868 64CO K 16TH MO VOL CAV
81943 A 65CO I 5TH ILL VOL CAV
81985 64CO K 16TH MO VOL CAV

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

The data base I consult as a first source , the Civilwardata, lists only 8 soldiers of that name, 4 Union and Four Confederate. Some may be the same man upon closer look.

But you'll find many soldiers with multiple variations of names.

My great great grandfather entered Andersonville as a prisoner in August 1864 with one last name but was freed in April 1865 with a different last name. He also had different middle initials and two spellings of his first name in various official military records. And his last name had only 5 letters , unlike your Mr. Buckhanon!

He did know how to spell his own name, I think. In the post-war years, he served as a local post master and was on the local school board.

 

[N5494]

Nice Remington even with the right side grip repair. Its a 3 line model 1861. The cartouche is not readable so we can't tell you who the inspector was. Below are the Remington's in the 81 range in the SRS. Keep in mind that if its not listed, its not listed and nothing can be read into it.

81012 A 65CO I 5TH ILL VOL CAV
81222 A 65CO I 5TH ILL VOL CAV
81234 A 65CO I 5TH ILL VOL CAV
81461 A 65CO I 5TH ILL VOL CAV
81669 64CO K 16TH MO VOL CAV
81802 64CO K 16TH MO VOL CAV
81868 64CO K 16TH MO VOL CAV
81943 A 65CO I 5TH ILL VOL CAV
81985 64CO K 16TH MO VOL CAV

I think we're getting closer...

The appearance of the revolver's serial number among the 5th Illinois Cavalry is a major find. The serial number 81460 is just one number away from a Remington (81461) confirmed to be a 5th Illinois issue. The date of manufacture, June 1864, is consistent with the basic enlistment info I received. Also, the pistol was issued to a unit from "mid-country" Illinois, again consistent with prior information.

With the above fact pattern, I focused on the 5th Illinois roster and found:

Joseph R. Buchannan
Private, Company I
5th Illinois Cavalry

There were two (2x) other Troopers in the 5th Illinois having a similar last name. However, both had either died from disease or deserted long before my Remington's June 1864 manufacture date.

More work to be done, but I just wanted to keep you in the loop.

Thanks for looking, Scott

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Looking at the data from civilwardata, of the four Union men with this exact last name, Buckhanon, three were privates in Infantry regiments, and so would not have revolvers, and the fourth, a cavalryman, died in 1862. Of the four Confederate men with this last name, all four were cavalrymen.

But when I looked at Fold3, there were dozens of men named Buckhanon who served in the War!

I bet a look at the NARA list mentioned above would yield a different number of men with that exact name!

But as I said above, no matter what last name a man had, there are likely to be variations in spelling in various records.