Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Patented in 1862 by Austin H. Freeman, around 2,000 of these .44 caliber, 6-shot revolvers were produced by Hoard’s Armory in Watertown, New York during 1863-1864. Though none were officially purchased by the U.S. government, examples likely saw use in the Civil War through state contracts and private purchases.
The Freeman’s distinguishing feature was its innovative cylinder removal system – a sliding latch on the right side allowed the entire cylinder and axis pin assembly to quickly slide out as one unit from the frame. Otherwise, it conformed to a typical “Army” revolver pattern with a 7.5″ barrel, single-action mechanism, and general design resembling a combination of Remington and Starr revolvers of the era.
Despite this unique cylinder removal feature, the Freeman failed to achieve major sales success. Its limited total production of only around 2,000 units makes surviving examples quite rare artifacts representing the lesser-known sidearms that saw action in the final years of the American Civil War.
“These rare Austin T. Freeman patent revolvers were manufactured by Hoard’s Armory in Watertown, New York, in the final years of the Civil War. The design looks like a cross between the Remington and Starr revolvers. These revolvers have an interesting method of securing and removing the cylinder: a small switch on the right side that when pressed forward allows the cylinder and pin to fall out to the right. Total production is only estimated at 2,000 revolvers. None are known to have been purchased by the Federal Government. However, some may have been purchased and issued by state governments, and others were no doubt purchased privately and carried by soldiers. “
Lot 1193: Hoard’s Armory Freeman Army Model Percussion Revolver. (n.d.-e). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved March 21, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/83/1193/hoards-armory-freeman-army-model-percussion-revolver.
