1858 New Army

First introduced in the late 1850s to provide a more rugged alternative to existing designs, the Remington Model 1858 percussion revolver entered the scene during a pivotal era of firearms evolution and saw continuous production until 1875. During this nearly two-decade run, approximately 132,000 units were manufactured, carving out a legacy as one of the most reliable sidearms of the 19th century.

At its core, the Remington 1858 is a single-action percussion revolver chambered in .44 caliber for the Army model, though a .36 caliber Navy version also existed. It features a six-shot cylinder and typically sports an 8-inch octagonal barrel. What truly set it apart from its contemporaries was its solid-frame construction. Unlike the open-top designs of the period, the Remington’s frame enclosed the cylinder entirely, providing a level of structural integrity and accuracy that became its primary selling point.

From a technical point of view the Uberti replica copies the Remington “New Army” model of 1863, featuring safety stop notches on the cylinder and a blade dovetailed front sight.

The revolver saw its most significant military service during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. It was the second most issued sidearm to Union forces, trailing only the Colt 1860 Army. Beyond the organized battles of the Civil War, it found favor in the hands of frontiersmen and lawmen in civil contexts across the American West. Users deeply appreciated the weapon for its "quick-change" cylinder capability. A soldier or traveler could swap a spent cylinder for a pre-loaded one in seconds, a feat nearly impossible with its rivals.

The superior strength of the solid frame and the ease of maintenance ensured that even after the advent of metallic cartridges, many Remington 1858 models were converted and continued to see use well into the late 1800s.