NMA questions

[GreyGus]

I just purchased what I believe to be a Remington NMA, but it has some features that do not match a typical NMA.
First , the pistol has been completely refinished, and the price I paid reflected that.
SN: 31535 on bottom barrel flat.
Patented Sept. 14, 1858
Remington &Sons. ILionNewYork.U.S.A. On top barrel flat.

The four things that seem off about this pistol;
1) does not have “NewModel” on top of barrel
2) the front sight is a silver post dovetailed into the barrel instead of a steel pinned sight
3) the cylinder pin is round for it’s entire length instead of having a flat portion.
4)Cylinder pin is not retained, when you drop the loading lever the pin can be pulled completely out.
(I am aware the cylinder pin has a handmade head that was attached to the original pin)

The left grip has a very faint cartouche
A small capital H is located just behind the trigger guard on the left side of the picture.
Safety notches are between the nipples on the cylinder.

Any information about the date of manufacture and non standard construction of this pistol would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[billt]

Hello GreyGus,
The barrel address on your revolver should have a “E” before Remington in the second line. It may have been removed when the revolver was refinished. The dovetailed front sight was used on the Elliot or Old Model revolvers and was carried over to the early New Models to use up existing inventory. That coupled with the barrel address without “New-Model“ make your revolver what is known as a Transition New Model. The early Transition revolvers had a two line patent address without the “New-Model”. The later ones had the “New Model” stamped between the two line patent address and the frame and the final barrel address consisted of three lines with the third being “New-Model”. I am a little surprised the serial number of your revolver is in the thirty one thousand range. In his book Remington Army and Navy Revolvers 1861-1865, Don Ware lists the serial number range of Transition revolvers as 10 to 20 thousand. I have a Transition revolver like yours without the "New-Model" which is in the 17 thousand range.
Have you checked the serial number on the frame under the left grip to see if it matches the one on the barrel? I believe the cylinder pin is a replacement as it should have a flat portion on the bottom to retain the pin. The small H is an inspection mark and the cartouche means the revolver was accepted by the Ordnance Department. If the serial is 31535 the revolver was shipped to the Ordnance Department in August of 1863.

I hope this helps.
Bill

[Jim in Wisconsin]

It would be interesting to see the cylinder pin and loading lever out of the gun, it would seem as though the pin can't be full diameter the entire length without interfering with the lever. There were earlier versions of this system though.
Is that a brass plate on the bottom of the grips?
The refinishing job is pretty nice, the edges of screw holes, etc are still sharp looking and the blueing looks great. I know a lot of people don't like the idea of refinishing an old gun, but (at least to me) it looks much better than old crusty, worn off brownish original finish. I think the guys who built it and the original owners would agree.

[GreyGus]

Billy and Jim,
Thanks to both of you for you very helpful replies.
I am currently at the battle of Bentonville reenactment, but will take and post the requested photos when I return to Va.