Starr

[dagjae]

Hello. I have a Starr single action revolver.Serialnumber 26665.Can anyone tell me year of production?

 

[JOHN42768]

Single action were started in late 1863 thru 1864. I'm guessing the numbers ran concurrently, if so yours should be early 1864.

 

[JOHN42768]

While doing some additional research on Starr revolvers, I found an old article in "The Gun Report " Jan. 1959 by C. Meade Patterson. Remember that Ordnance contracts and Purchased of Starr revolvers only accounts for 42352 approx. The D.A. in .36 & .44 serial range from 1 to 23100 approx. He states "Starr SA percussion revolvers serial range from 23100 to 54000 approx." Info from John McAulay "Civil War Pistols of the Union" states the first 1000 delivery of S.A. Starr Were delivered Dec.19,1863. Thereafter followed by 2000 each in Jan. , Feb, & Mar. 1864. So that helps narrows down the date.

Another point in Patterson's article which might clear up some of the confusion as to D.A. Starr's being double action. It has been discussed that it was not a true D.A. as we know in today's world. He clearly agrees as he refers to it as "Self-Cocking" . I'm guessing more along the lines of a set trigger.

 

[JamesKelly]

My Starr (owned circa 1960) fired by pulling the trigger, like a modern double action revolver
I have no recollection of cocking the hammer to shoot it single action. Perhaps that was not possible?
Anyway it did not have a set trigger

 

[JOHN42768]

My Starr (owned circa 1960) fired by pulling the trigger, like a modern double action revolver
I have no recollection of cocking the hammer to shoot it single action. Perhaps that was not possible?
Anyway it did not have a set trigger

Your was a D.A. (Self-Cocking). If it were S.A. you would have had to pull the hammer back before firing. I'm only comparing (set trigger) in the sense that you could pull the hammer back part ways(thus performing the set function) and then squeeze the small trigger(very close to flush) behind the large trigger as that is how a set trigger functions. Note the small trigger in back of standard. It acts like a sear.

 

[mofederal]

It was a good rugged revolver. I think I like the D.A. model best. A good friend ofmine a nice one, but I believe his was a single action.

 

[JOHN42768]

It actually performed better then the Colt in the government test, but Politics and P.R. won out. Granted it had more small parts that could go wrong if tampered with, but otherwise like you say "good rugged revolver". The cylinder and arbor being one piece to eliminate fouling and aid in cleaning. The only possible advantage of the S.A. was a longer barrel for better accuracy.