Savage & North Figure 8 revolver

Fewer than one thousand Savage revolvers with this unusual dual trigger system were manufactured c. 1856-1859. The figure-8 lower trigger was actually a lever that functioned to rotate the cylinder and cock the hammer when pulled. The second trigger, which is more conventional in appearance, was used to discharge the pistol. SN 240

This six-shot, single-action revolver has a 7 1/8-inch octagonal rifled with five grooves, a total length of 14 1/4 inches, a cylinder and rotating recoil shield 2-3/16 inches long, and weighs three pounds seven ounces. It has a brass cone front sight, and a round-base, V-notch rear sight set into the top of the frame under its offset hammer. It has oil-finished walnut grips sometimes stamped with inspectors' initials.

This revolver has an enormous trigger guard containing a ring cocking lever and a trigger. The cocking lever cocks the hammer, and rotates the cylinder after drawing it backwards away from the barrel, and the trigger releases the hammer to fire the revolver. Releasing the ring cocking lever wedges the cylinder against the barrel in a gastight union.

These revolvers were manufactured early in the War. Some are stamped "WAT" on the right grip. Barrels are stamped in three lines "SAVAGE R.F.A. CO. MIDDLETOWN-CT", over"H. S. NORTH PATENTED JUNE 17 1856", over "JANUARY 18 1859, MAY 15, 1860". This revolver was patented by Henry S. North and Edward Savage of Middletown, Connecticut, and the dates refer to U. S. Patents 15,444, 22,666 and 28,331. The patentees formed the Savage Revolving Fire Arms Company in 1860.