Feeling its solid weight in your palm, youll begin to
understand the confidence of the Confederates who carried it up the slope of Cemetery
Ridge, into the heart of the Union defenses.
Listening to the smooth click of the hammer, you can also visualize
the Union officers taking aim to protect that three-mile-long defensive line, desperately
trying to hold the Union together. If this battle was lost, all could be lost, and they
knew it.
Studying the detailed, 24-karat gold scenes on the cylinder, you can
feel the agony of these two seasoned and capable armies in a bloody battle to decide the
future of our nation.
Like anyone who has thrilled to the story of Americas Civil
War, I know that accounts of the Battle of Gettysburg inspire powerful images and emotions
to this day. Still, no book or movie can bring these emotions to life as powerfully as
just holding the Gettysburg 1863 Revolver.
The United States Society of Arms & Armour and America
Remembers, in cooperation with the Civil War Preservation Trust, have commissioned the
incomparable artisans of Uberti, whose master craftsmen have painstakingly reproduced the
greatest firearms for more than four decades, to produce this exacting detailed
reproduction of the Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver, the trusted and treasured sidearm of
the men in blue and gray alike.
Although surprisingly light at only 2 pounds, 10 ounces, the classic
Model 1860 Army nevertheless packed a powerful .44 caliber wallop. This unique combination
of easy handling and heavy firepower made it the most desired weapon of its day.
Certainly, the Model 1860 Army was appreciated by the men who
carried it in Gettysburg. They knew that a dependable weapon would make the difference
between victory or defeat in perhaps the most important battle they would ever fight.
All through the fighting, from Culps Hill to Round Top, from
Devils Den to the Peach Orchard, both armies used the gun with devastating
efficiency.
Recreating The Drama Of Picketts Charge
But of all the events that made the Battle of Gettysburg so famous,
it was "Picketts Charge" that elevated it to the realm of legend. On the
afternoon of July 3, Major General George Pickett and a mile-wide line of as much as
15,000 Confederate men began a steady, deliberate march toward the center of the Union
line of defense.
As individuals in this massive wave fell to enemy fire, their
comrades closed the ranks with awe-inspiring precision and the march continued. Finally, a
few dozen men broke through the Union line atop Cemetery Ridge and vicious, toe-to-toe
fighting began under a thick cloud of powder smoke.
I know youll be especially impressed with the way
"Picketts Charge" is recreated on the Gettysburg 1863 Revolver with a
breathtaking 24-karat gold panorama that wraps completely around the cylinder. The
absolute accuracy of this illustration, down to the smallest detail, must be seen to be
believed.
From uniforms to weapons, from the leaves on the trees to the
Gettysburg farmhouse in the distance, this amazingly detailed and dramatic work of art is
made all the more exciting by the beauty of 24-karat gold against blued steel.
Complementing this illustration are gold inscriptions on each side
of the barrel. On the left side are the words, "Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July
1863," and on the right, an excerpt from Lincolns Gettysburg Address, "We
here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain."
For me, these gold decorations merely highlight the already
impressive beauty of the classic Colt Model 1860 Army. Featuring a frame and 8-inch barrel
finished in handsome blued steel and grips of the finest select walnut, the Gettysburg
1863 is a masterpiece of American design.
With care and attention to each detail, the worlds greatest
gunsmiths have recreated this American classic as only they can. As they assemble the gun,
they check and recheck their work after each step to ensure complete accuracy. The result
is a working firearm that shows the talent, care, and dedication of its builders in its
every detail.
The Civil War Preservation Trust
This same care and dedication is mirrored in the work of the Civil
War Preservation Trust. The Civil War Preservation Trust is Americas largest
national membership organization dedicated to working with communities to preserve the
sites of some of the Civil Wars greatest battles, so that these last great, tangible
remnants of our Civil War heritage are preserved for future generations.
Your reservation for the "Gettysburg 1863" Revolver will
aid the Civil War Trust at sites like Gettysburg, Antietam, Harpers Ferry and many other
battle sites threatened by urban development and commercialization. Please visit the
Civil War Preservation Trust at www.civilwar.org.