During the Civil War, a wide variety of handguns were seen on the battlefield.  One of the most easily recognized was the Kerr revolver which was readily distinguished by its musket style side hammer and cylinder pin which extends below the base of the hammer.  The Kerr was used almost exclusively by Confederate cavalry.

In 1861, the Confederacy sent purchasing agent Caleb Huse to Europe to procure weapons for their armies.  By March 1862 Huse had an exclusive contract with the London Armoury Company for all the arms they could produce, making them the foremost source of weapons for the Confederacy in Europe.  Many thousands of Enfield rifles and virtually all the Kerr revolvers produced thereafter from London Armory were run through the Federal blockade.  At the war’s end and with the demise of the Confederate States, the principle client of London Armoury was gone and they ceased production of all arms and closed their doors.

This Kerr is typical of those that arrived for the Confederate forces.  It is a 5-shot single action pistol with a 54mm bore (approximately .45 caliber.)  All metal parts are blued, now turned to a plum patina.  The grips are checkered English walnut, terminating with a lanyard swivel ring at the butt.  An external spring at the off side of the frame retains a cylinder pin which rests beneath the base of the hammer.  A hinged rammer with spring clasp fastens between two ears that are attached to the bottom of the muzzle flat.  The front sight at the top of the muzzle is a brass post.

This pistol bears numerous British proof markings including L.A.C. on the upper flat of the 5¾” octagonal barrel, alongside a crown over an enjoined GP and a crown over V; on the left lower frame is London Armoury in a small oval; on the lockplate on the right grip is LONDON ARMOURY COMPANY; on the rear of the cylinder between each chamber are alternating crown over V and crown over enjoined GP.  Finally, on the trigger stem and on the underside of the frame above the cylinder is the number 573, the assembler’s identification number.  Each Kerr was hand assembled, and it was intended that if future repairs or modifications became necessary, the pistol was to be returned to the original assembler.

Of particular interest on this pistol is its serial number.  The Kerrs sent to southern arsenals under Caleb Huse’s contract are regarded as falling within the serial number range of 3000-10000.  During the war, Lieutenant G. Julian Pratt of the 18^th Virginia Cavalry filed a roll of his Company H, listing the revolvers issued to each trooper by serial number.  A single page of this document bearing seventeen names has survived.  Known as Pratt’s Roll, the document identifies the numbers of ten Kerr revolvers two of which are 9955 and 9961.  The Kerr revolver pictured here is serial number 9959, at the center of the six digit gap between the two known pieces, placing it within the 18^th Virginia Cavalry range.

The Remington New Model Army revolver was second only to the Colts in the number of pistols that saw service during the Civil War.  Remingtons accounted for nearly 35% of the revolvers purchased by the Government in that time period.  Although the Remington Arms Company had been established prior to the war they had produced mostly long arms.  For this reason, the number of Remington revolvers suitable for military use but in private hands prior to 1861 was very limited. 

Remingtons commenced their war service primarily in the hands of Union soldiers.  However, by 1863 these handguns were also carried by many southern troopers, a number having been "donated" by some Union cavalrymen whose luck had run out.  They were found to be a reliable handgun, but were never as popular as the Colts.

This example is a .44 caliber percussion pistol with a 6 shot round cylinder and an 8" octagon barrel whose threads are visible at the breech end.  The walnut grips display a clear cartouche on the left grip.  Much blue is remaining on the barrel, not flaking as is often found on Remington revolvers. Clear imprint on top of barrel: "PATENTED SEPT. 14, 1858/EM REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, NEW YORK, U.S.A./NEW MODEL.”  All inspector’s marks are matching.