Starr single action
Starr single action cal .44 percussion.
This is a civilian revolver with original factory engraving.
John L'Abée
Starr 1863
It is their single action Army Model introduced in 1863.
By late 1862, Starr was persuaded to discontinue production of their self-cocking double action revolvers in favour of this large caliber, long barrelled, single action pistol.
Although Starr was the third largest provider of pistols to the Union during the Civil war, after the war, the company could not compete with Colt, Remington, and the up and coming firm of Smith and Wesson.
They went out of business in 1867.
It is a reasonable assumption that William Haskins, William Hawthorn, William Hoover, W. Hunter, or Winfield Hazen carried this pistol (that I bought yesterday) with them through the terrible last three years of the American civil war, including the battle of Gettysburg.
These men were members of the 7th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry regiment; also know as Wolverine Brigade of George Armstrong Custer.
The serial number on this gun identifies it as one of the pistols issued to that unit when it was formed early in 1863 and long ago, someone carved the initials W H on the butt of this pistol.
Roger
