Colt M1860 Army Percussion Revolver
From the collections of the
Kentucky Historical Society
Accession Number 1987.47.02
Colt M1860 Army Percussion Revolver, 1861
14" x 5 1/2" x 1 3/4"
The Union armed its troops with Colt M1860 revolvers. A gun like this one would be used as a sidearm. A sidearm is a weapon that is kept close to the body for easy access. Soldiers usually used these guns as back-ups for their rifles. They were expensive and highly-valued weapons at the time. John C. Breckinridge, the Confederate Secretary of War, carried this gun.
