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Percussion Revolvers

After weather-resistant percussion technology replaced the less-reliable flintlock mechanism in the early decades of the 1800s, gun makers transitioned to percussion revolvers during the middle years of the 19th century. Percussion-fired models were the firearms standard until metallic cartridge revolvers came into common use in the mid 1870s.

In their earliest period of development from 1836 to 1848, Patterson and Walker revolvers based on Colt patents made up the lion’s share of percussion revolvers. From 1849 to 1855, when the simple single-action mechanism came into its own, percussion revolvers were adopted for widespread global use. They enjoyed the height of their popularity from the late-1850s through the 1860s, when innovations like the double-action method began replacing them.

Percussion-based rotating cylinder weapons were introduced to service during the Civil War and maintained their popularity before being abandoned in favor of newer improvements. Despite being relatively short-lived iterations, original percussion revolvers and the modern-day replicas based on them remain popular among collectors, avid shooters, and firearms enthusiasts.


Quick Facts

  • In a 2011 Auction Arms sale, a replica Richland Arms Remington 1859 New Model Army percussion revolver in its original box sold for $177.01
  • A California Gold Rush-era Colt .44 caliber six-shot percussion revolver sold at Skinner for $2,489
  • In 2007, the finest-known example of a .31-caliber Colt percussion revolver sold at Rock Island Auction for an incredible $414,000

Recommended Items at Auction

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ANTIQUE CASED TRANTER FOURTH MODEL PERCUSSION REVOLVER
Oct 22, 9:00 AM MST
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Est: $0- $0
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CASED AMERICA REMEMBERS 5TH MODEL PATERSON PERCUSSION LIMITED EDITION REVOLVER
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Est: $0- $0
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CASED NAVY ARMS 1851 NAVY .44 CAL. BLACK POWDER PERCUSSION REVOLVER
Oct 22, 9:00 AM MST
CASED NAVY ARMS 1851 NAVY .44 CAL. BLACK POWDER PERCUSSION REVOLVER
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Est: $0- $0
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BACON 1849 POCKET MODEL PERCUSSION REVOLVER
Oct 03, 9:00 AM EDT
BACON 1849 POCKET MODEL PERCUSSION REVOLVER
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Est: $400- $700
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A GOOD CASED 54-BORE ADAMS PATENT PERCUSSION REVOLVER, serial no. 15466R,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A GOOD CASED 54-BORE ADAMS PATENT PERCUSSION REVOLVER, serial no. 15466R,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £1,500- £2,000
£1,5000 Bids
A GOOD CASED AND ENGRAVED 54-BORE PERCUSSION BEAUMONT ADAMS PATENT REVOLVER, serial no. 26198R,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A GOOD CASED AND ENGRAVED 54-BORE PERCUSSION BEAUMONT ADAMS PATENT REVOLVER, serial no. 26198R,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £2,000- £3,000
£2,0000 Bids
A CASED 54-BORE PERCUSSION KERR'S PATENT REVOLVER, serial no. P940,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A CASED 54-BORE PERCUSSION KERR'S PATENT REVOLVER, serial no. P940,
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Est: £1,800- £2,200
£1,8000 Bids
A CASED 54-BORE PERCUSSION DEANE-HARDING PATENT REVOLVER, serial no. 5607L,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A CASED 54-BORE PERCUSSION DEANE-HARDING PATENT REVOLVER, serial no. 5607L,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £1,000- £1,500
£1,0000 Bids
A GOOD 54-BORE PERCUSSION BAR-HAMMER TRANSITIONAL REVOLVER, UNSIGNED, no visible serial number,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A GOOD 54-BORE PERCUSSION BAR-HAMMER TRANSITIONAL REVOLVER, UNSIGNED, no visible serial number,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £300- £500
£3000 Bids
A .36 PERCUSSION SAVAGE-NORTH SIX-SHOT SAVAGE NAVY TRIGGER-COCKING REVOLVER, no visible serial number,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A .36 PERCUSSION SAVAGE-NORTH SIX-SHOT SAVAGE NAVY TRIGGER-COCKING REVOLVER, no visible serial number,
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Est: £800- £1,200
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A .28 PERCUSSION SIDEHAMMER POCKET SINGLE-ACTION REVOLVER BY ALLEN & WHEELOCK, serial no. 414,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A .28 PERCUSSION SIDEHAMMER POCKET SINGLE-ACTION REVOLVER BY ALLEN & WHEELOCK, serial no. 414,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £400- £600
£4000 Bids
A RARE .44 PERCUSSION SIX-SHOT CENTRE HAMMER ARMY REVOLVER BY ALLEN & WHEELOCK, serial no. 21,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A RARE .44 PERCUSSION SIX-SHOT CENTRE HAMMER ARMY REVOLVER BY ALLEN & WHEELOCK, serial no. 21,
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Est: £1,000- £1,500
£1,0000 Bids
AN 80-BORE PERCUSSION COOPER'S PATENT PEPPERBOX REVOLVER SIGNED J.R. COOPER, no visible serial number,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
AN 80-BORE PERCUSSION COOPER'S PATENT PEPPERBOX REVOLVER SIGNED J.R. COOPER, no visible serial number,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £400- £600
£4000 Bids
(A) BLUNT & SYMS DRAGOON SIZE PEPPERBOX PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Oct 25, 9:00 AM EDT
(A) BLUNT & SYMS DRAGOON SIZE PEPPERBOX PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
by Morphy Auctions
Est: $2,400- $4,800
$1,2000 Bids
Bavarian percussion revolver, Army trials, by R. Stahl, Hassfurt, ca. 1865, in case
Oct 12, 10:00 AM CEST
Bavarian percussion revolver, Army trials, by R. Stahl, Hassfurt, ca. 1865, in case
by Hermann Historica GmbH
Est: €0- €0
€9500 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Percussion Revolvers


Holts Auctioneers

Holts Auctioneers

Bradford's

Bradford's

Hermann Historica GmbH

Hermann Historica GmbH

Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC

Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC