Civil War US Army Purchase Whitney Navy Model Revolver

Serial #12067, .36 Caliber, 7 5/8" octagon barrel with a good bore that has some areas of dark pitting along its length.  This is a 2nd Model, 3rd Type revolver that retains about 15-20% of the original bright blue along the barrel, mostly towards the breech-end, and a mostly mottled gray patina on the frame and cylinder.  Traces of muted color case-hardening can be seen on the loading lever assembly, while the brass trigger guard has taken on a mellow ochre patina over time.  US inspector stamps are present on either side of the barrel and frame at the jucture, as well as on the left side of the frame just above the take-down switch.  The walnut grips are numbered on the gun on the interior, and have scattered minor handling marks and blemishes on both panels.  The left panel has a large "ND" carved into the butt one the left side in large Roman capitals.  The lock-up is still tight and the action is fully functional, although the loading lever lock is quite sticky and currently needs to be removed in order to dismount the lever assembly.  These revolvers were extensively used during the Civil War, but are relatively uncommon today.  According to "The Whitney Navy Revolver 1857 – 1866" by Daniel E. Williams Jr. (2012), this example was one of 7,000 contracted for by the US Army in 1862, with a total of 5,600 revolvers delivered by year’s end.  This is a rare example of a very good condition US Army Whitney Navy overall.  Antique