This desirable revolver is among the desirable early production Colt Model 1860 Fluted Army revolvers shipped to the South. Reportedly, around 2,300 revolvers were shipped to southern states and dealers just before the Civil War. Among those identified, perhaps the most significant were those purchased by William T. Martin of Natchez, Mississippi. The accompanying factory letter states that this revolver was originally included as part of a shipment of 750 to Kittredge & Folsom of New Orleans, Louisiana on April 9th, 1861 and further indicates there was a prior shipment of 250 on March 28th, 1861 to the same. This lot is also accompanied by a letter from noted historian Charles W. Pate which indicates this grouping of 1,000 revolvers was purchased and delivered to said location under direction by Texas Ranger and Civil War Brigadier General Benjamin McCulloch for the State of Texas. The included letter from Charles W. Pate states, "Colt shipped the first 250 of the revolvers to Kittredge & Folsom by steamer on 28 March 1861. The remaining 750 pistols were not ready for shipment until 9 April, by which date McCulloch was in New Orleans, having returned from the East." The letter further states, "The second shipment, 750 revolvers, arrived in New Orleans on 16 April and were supplied to the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles, commanded by the famous former Texas Ranger John S. ("Rip") Ford. A soldier in Ford's regiment recorded in his diary on 1 June 1861, 'A train of wagons arrive from San Antonio loaded with arms, cooking utensils & etc., they are immediately issued to the company; each man has a Mississippi rifle and a Colt's six.' The presence of these Model 1860 revolvers in the 2nd Texas is confirmed in the service records of some of the regiment's members." Pate further indicates that Colt company never received the $25,000 due for all of these Texas supplied revolvers. The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter occurred on April 12th, 1861, which was right around the time of the shipment of this revolver, causing the outbreak of the American Civil War. Colt's company is known to have shipped a considerable quantity of arms to the South. In fact, his company even shipped some arms in the days immediately following the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter. With the actual outbreak of war, however, Colt threw his weight and his armory behind the Union cause and produced hundreds of thousands of revolvers and rifle-muskets along with large quantities of ammunition. This exact revolver with the included holster is photographed on page 97 of Charles Pate's book "The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver" (copy of book included with the lot) above the caption, "The old civilian holster has been with SN 4412 for many years." The book indicates that these Texas used revolvers have been found in the serial range 200-4700. German silver blade front sight, "COLTS/PATENT" on the left of the frame, matching serial number "4412" marked on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and butt, with no number visible on the wedge or cylinder, and a faint non-matching number on the cylinder pin that appears to be "75x". This revolver is also photographed with its holster on page 264 of Military Collector & Historian journal in the article titled "Ben McCulloch Colts: Model 1860 Colt Revolvers for the State of Texas" by Charles Pate. Provenance: The Charles W. Pate Collection

Good and showing strong characteristic signs of Southern Civil War use, exhibiting a darkened brown patina overall with mild wear and pitting. Broken/partially absent spring piece in the wedge. Grip is also good with general mild wear, some cracked/absent sections at the edges, and some scattered chips. Mechanically fair, occasionally hangs up when cocking the hammer. The holster is good with mild aging and wear, and a few tears and absent sections. This documented Texas issued Colt Model 1860 Fluted Army revolver would make a great addition to any Civil War firearms collection!