Colt originally hoped that there would be a good market for their percussion .44 Army revolver fitted with a shoulder stock so that it could be used in hand as a holster revolver and also, when fitted with a shoulder stock, used as a carbine. That didn’t work well, sales wise, and there are only two sizeable military orders for the 1860s with stocks. This is from the group that went to New York.

The story is well told in Charles Pate’s standard reference book, “The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver” at pages 311 through 316. Captain Silas Crispin the US Army ordnance representative in New York City, took delivery of a shipment of 1000 1860s with stocks March 1, 1862, and a newly raised elite unit, the 11th New York Cavalry, called “Scott’s Nine Hundred” was equipped with these Colts.

This unit served in Washington DC for some months as headquarters guard for various Union Generals, as well as guarding President Lincoln.

They also fought Confederate JEB Stuart as he tried to get back to Lee’s troops on their way to Gettysburg, and delayed Stuart. It wasn’t until after Gettysburg, this unit did not have any carbines, but only had these Colts, and had to use them with their shoulder stocks as carbines if they wanted a steadier aim.

The men did not like the shoulder stocks, and left them behind in camp when they could. They also lost many revolvers with a swarm of deserters who left while the unit was in Washington DC, taking their revolvers and stocks with them. One famous Crispin revolver is serial 20407, which was in the possession of John Wilkes Booth when he was shot and captured after assassinating Lincoln. As Pate notes, this likely was sold by a trooper of the 11th New York Cavalry and fell into Booth’s hands. My revolver is serial 22772, matching on all parts of the revolver, even the wedge.

None of these Crispin Colts were inspected by the military, but all have an “0” stamped above or below the serial numbers on the barrel and frame. The wood does have old scrap marks where the shoulder stock swiveled into place. There is the number “78” on one side (likely a rack mark), the initials “AB” on the bottom, and there is some sort of inscription on the right side, but because of wear, I can’t read it.

The mechanics work as they should. There is no original finish on the gun, it has gone to a nice brown. Although the shoulder stock that was shipped with it has been lost in the mist of time, this Colt is still a well used but solid and original Colt 1860 which has some special historical connection.

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