Savage Navy Model Revolver

Reproduction/Conversion to Savage & North Figure 8 Third Model Revolver. The Figure 8 Model revolvers were made c.1856-1859; the Navy Models c. 1861- mid 1860s. SN 788

About 23,000 Savage Navy revolvers were manufactured during the Civil War era. Of these, nearly 12,000 were purchased by both the U.S. Army and Navy under various contracts. These were not popular sidearms with Union troops, but quite a few privately-purchased Savage revolvers were smuggled into the South and served with Confederate cavalry troopers. The Savage Navy revolver evolved from the earlier Savage & North Figure 8 revolver.

The specimen displayed here is a Navy revolver that was converted to a rare Third Model Figure 8 model, of which only a few hundred are known to have been produced. The primary difference between these two is the heart-shaped trigger guard featured on the Navy version. In the case of this pistol, the trigger guard was removed, and the trigger re-worked as part of the conversion process. This is an excellent example which illustrates the practice of altering a more commonly available gun to resemble a much rarer and therefore more valuable piece.