Description:
A very nice and shoot-able condition Manhattan 36 caliber Navy revolver, circa 1863, in nice tight condition, with a Manhattan produced 36 caliber bullet mold, and a copy of Waldo Nutter's definitive and one of the only works on the history and intricacies of the Manhattan Firearms Company.
This Manhattan, which was a copy of the Colt 1851 Navy revolver, being produced after the expiration of Colt's patent for the 1851, and quite frankly is actually a higher quality firearm than Colt produced.
This one was made circa 1863 and known as a Series III. It sports a 4 inch barrel which was very popular with not only civilians during and after the American Civil War, but was also a favorite of many a soldier going off to battle as a secondary or 5 shot “pocket” pistol to be used as a supplement to his infantry rifle.
This locks up tight, cocks and rotates the cylinder to positive alignment with the barrel, and I have personally shot this and it functions just beautifully. The barrel has decent rifling and proved itself to be quite accurate when firing at a 15 yard target. I used 18gr. FFF powder. The finish, which was once blued, now displays a gray patina. There is a still visible cylinder scene although it is worn as to be expected. Silvering, while worn is still present on the grip surfaces.
Every number on this pistol matches, barrel, loading lever, barrel wedge, frame, and even the cylinder. There is a nipple shaft missing, or rather it was purposely “chiseled” off, and the reason for it's removal was a mystery at first, but then I discovered this is not that unusual. This pistol designed for pocket carry back then, unlike a Colt it has additional cylinder stops to rest the hammer between loaded nipples. It has been discovered that with all 5 nipples loaded and with percussion caps in place, resting the hammer on the cylinder between capped chambers, had a tendency to have the percussion cap on the outside chamber come loose and drop off the nipple. Evidently the original user/owner of this pistol, in an effort to assure positive firing, took a chisel and broke off the nipple shaft. Now he could carry the pistol, hammer safely down on the chiseled nipple, and all the percussion caps were protected and not subject to accidentally falling off. I suggested this to several collectors, and they all agreed that this was no doubt the reason especially since it is not actually possible to remove a nipple shaft in any other way. In other words the owner/user purposely would have to have done this.
Besides feeling great in the hand when holding, aiming, shooting, one gets a sense of history...imagine the long gone soul who used this, perhaps in self-defense or in the heat of battle.
There is a Manhattan produced bullet mold that also comes with the pistol. Casts one round and one conical ball. I have used this and have cast pure lead bullets with it. They come out just beautiful. I then proceeded to use them to load and fire the pistol.
Lastly, included will be a like new copy of Waldo E. Nutter's definitive work entitled:
MANHATTAN FIREARMS, copyrighted in 1958, published by Stackpole Books. This is to the best of my knowledge the ONLY reference work on the Manhattan Firearms. The book is very detailed and simply a must have with any Manhattan Firearms owner.
Classified as an antique, no FFL is required. However I can not ship it to states where it would be prohibited.
Reasonable offers will be seriously considered.
Condition:
Used - See Item Description
Brand:
Manhattan
Model:
36 cal. Navy
Caliber:
.36 Cal. Cap & Ball
Location:
PA
Trades Accepted: No
Shipping Notes: See Description
