need help on ID of Remington 1861 Navy Revolver

[Texwing]

HelloAttachment 27404Attachment 27405

Hi, I recently purchased this 1861 Remington Navy pistol, but I cannot get it to fit into any clean catagory that I have researched (hope the pics came out on this, if not i will try again).
Most perplexing is the cylinder arbor, it has no wings, and neither the loading lever or the front of the frame has a cut out to accept a winged arbor; I have not seen any like this. Also, the caliber should be .36, but seems more like .38. The barrel has the two Patented 1861, Remington Illion new York stamping. The loading lever is grooved and cut so that the cylinder could be removed without lowering the loading lever. Four digit serial number is 1859 under barrel, but could have a 5th digit under cylinder arbor, but I cannot remove it. As well, the cylinder will not revolve on the arbor, although the rest of the gun functions and is not really very rusty, soaking it now. Barrel measures 7 and 3/8 inches, and the exposed threads are noted. Anyway, it all seems early model except for the exposed cylinder threads, but the caliber and the non winged arbor pin makes no sense. Any help appreciated.

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[Bruce McAskill]

While called a 36 caliber the diameter of the ball used if I remember correctly is .375. I cannot speak about the wings as I do not know.

[Texwing]

Ok thanks that might explain the caliber, the nose of a .38 special round will go in both the barrel and the cylinder all the way to the brass. I appreciate the reply.

[Johnny Peppers]

Maybe the original cylinder pin has been replaced.

The ball used in a percussion revolver must be larger in diameter than the cylinder or bore. A .44 revolver used a .451 ball for that reason. Remember that the .38 special used the same diameter bullet as the .357 Magnum.

[Texwing]

[QUOTE=Johnny Peppers;192738]Maybe the original cylinder pin has been replaced.

Well, maybe the pin has been replaced, except that a standard winged pin or arbor would not have anywhere to nest on this pistol, ie there is no slot in the frame or loading lever for it, and as far as I can tell nothing to keep it from coming out or moving forward when the pistol was in use. all other pistols I have observed seem to have some accomodation for the winged arbor. Of course it could be a conglomeration of parts, but it does not look like it, its really in pretty good shape and parts all seem to match.