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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.