In the annals of frontier-era single-actions, Remington was a little late out of the gate, despite its prominence during the Civil War with its New Model Army cap-and-ball revolver. By the time Remington’s Model 1875 was introduced, the Colt Single Action Army and Smith & Wesson’s No. 3 Schofield were already in the holsters of soldiers and civilians alike.
It wasn’t until late 1874 that the Remington 1875 Improved Army Revolver was introduced, priced at $12.50. A 7½” barrel was standard, although a few 5¾” versions were produced. Often affixed with a lanyard ring, the 1875 had a more elongated grip-to-frame ratio compared to the Colt SAA, as well as a nonfunctional under-barrel steel web—a holdover design inspired by Remington’s New Model Army percussion revolver. Consequently, the Remington 1875 was not as well-balanced, by comparison, as the Colt Peacemaker. Plus, it was built to such close tolerances that it would often bind up with fouling.
Adding to these shortcomings, an initial order from the Egyptian government for 10,000 Improved Army Revolvers specified chambering in the proprietary-but-obscure .44 Remington Centerfire cartridge. Around Serial No. 16,000, Remington began chambering its Model 1875 for the more popular .44-40 Win. and—thanks to an order for 1,000 guns from the Mexican government—in .45 Colt (which Remington referred to as “.45 Government,” no doubt causing some consumer confusion). Remington’s ongoing mismanagement problems and financial difficulties were compounded when it was discovered that Egypt still owed the company several hundred thousand dollars for previously delivered Rolling Block rifles, which resulted in the cancellation of Egypt’s remaining Model 1875 orders. Consequently, in 1886, Remington filed for bankruptcy, which ended production of the Model 1875 after an estimated 30,000 guns had been produced.
In 1888, the company and its assets were sold to an investment group that included Hartley and Graham, one of America’s largest firearm dealers. In going through the inventory, a number of unsold Model 1875s were discovered, primarily in .44 Remington and .44-40 Win. Rather than sell these as “old stock,” it was decided to transform them into new, slightly augmented single-actions, which included milling away the under-barrel web, rechambering the remaining .44 Remingtons to .44-40 and cutting the 7½” barrels to 5¾”, thus keeping the “E. REMINGTON & SONS ILION, N.Y. U.S.A.” stamping of the Model 1875 barrels. The Model 1875’s two-piece walnut stocks were also retained. Denoting its shortened barrel, this revamped gun was christened the Remington New Model Pocket Army Revolver, or as it is called by collectors today, the Remington Model 1888.
Priced at $10.50, nickeled or blued and limited to guns found in inventory, it is estimated that fewer than 1,000 Model 1888s were made between 1888 and 1890. Most were apparently sold by Hartley and Graham, as the company’s 1889 catalog is the only known period mention of the Remington New Model Pocket Army Revolver. Even today, many Remington reference books do not list the Model 1888, which proved to be a transitional gun that briefly bridged the gap between the Remington 1875 and the similarly scarce Model 1890, of which only 2,020 guns were produced from 1890 to 1896 and which had a new “REMINGTON ARMS CO., ILION, N.Y.” barrel stamping, reflecting that company’s reorganization.
The Model 1888’s obscurity no doubt accounts for its sometimes-modest prices, considering its rarity. The gun shown here sports ill-fitted replaced walnut stocks but is otherwise original, with 80 percent of its nickel finish remaining and an intriguing “Lawlis” scratched into the butt. In a 2023 Internet auction, it sold for $2,625.
Gun: New Model Pocket Army Revolver
Manufacturer: E. Remington & Sons
Chambering: .44-40 Win.
Manufactured: c. 1888-1889
Condition: NRA Very Good/Fine (Antique Gun Standards)
Value: $2,500 to $3,500
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