Subject: Revolvers

This archival item consists of a billhead and an envelope from Lyon Brothers, successors to H. Wolf, located at 214, 216, and 246-252 East Madison Street in Chicago, Illinois. The billhead, dated February 1, 1897, details an invoice for a revolver with a wolf picture. A price list included with the billhead shows various revolvers of different sizes and makers. The envelope, postmarked March 30, 1897, is addressed to David T. Lyon and Mark Lyon in Chicago. The business was established in 1872.

A .36 caliber Savage Percussion Navy Revolver with a 7.125" barrel and serial number 1380. The revolver features a blued and color case-hardened finish, walnut grips, and side plate numbered 1380. Assembly number 613 is present on the frame, under the barrel, and inside both grips. The cylinder has assembly number 589. Standard three-line address and patent markings are on the top strap. The revolver shows sub-inspection markings. Approximately 20,000 of these revolvers were produced in the early 1860s, with 11,984 acquired by the U.S. government for the Civil War. This specific revolver is a Savage & North model 1861 Navy ball and cap proto-double action revolver. Designed by Henry North and Edward Savage in 1860, production ran from 1861 to 1862 by the Savage Revolving Firearm Company, which produced only 23,000 pistols before closing. It features a rare proto-double action system with a second trigger that cocks the hammer. The revolver has a 7" octagonal barrel, a six-shot cylinder, double trigger system, walnut grips, and an attached loading lever. It saw limited use by Union and Confederate regiments.