POTD: E.A. Prescott Navy Model – Civil War Rimfire Revolver

Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have an E.A. Prescott Navy Model single action revolver manufactured 1861-1863 and chambered in .38 rimfire. Edwin A. Prescott of Worcester, Massachusetts produced these during the Civil War when demand for revolvers far exceeded Colt and Remington’s capacity.

Prescott’s design featured a solid frame and top strap similar to Remington, but with distinctive features including the spur trigger and cylinder pin release mechanism. The .38 rimfire chambering was adequate for a Navy-sized revolver, though less powerful than .44 caliber Army models. The 7 1/2-inch octagon barrel matched the length of standard Navy revolvers from Colt and Remington. Prescott marketed these to officers, state contracts, and private purchase by soldiers when regulation revolvers weren’t available. The rimfire cartridge simplified loading compared to percussion caps, powder, and balls.

Prescott revolvers saw limited military acceptance compared to established makers. Most went to state militia units or private purchase rather than federal contracts. After the Civil War, Prescott’s company struggled to compete with surplus Colts and Remingtons flooding the market at reduced prices. By the late 1860s, Prescott was out of the revolver business. The company’s brief production during 1861-1863 makes surviving examples relatively uncommon. Most saw hard use during the war and postwar frontier period, making ones in good condition scarce today.

Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!

“Civil War Era E.A. Prescott Navy Model Single Action Revolver.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5030/78/civil-war-era-ea-prescott-navy-model-single-action-revolver. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.

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