19th Century Sidearm
A 19th century sidearm is a personal military weapon carried by officers and troops, offering a tangible link to historical combat and martial craftsmanship.
19th Century Sidearm
A 19th century sidearm encompasses a varied range of personal weaponry, from percussion pistols and revolvers to edged weapons like dirks, bayonets, and daggers.
The selection on this page spans distinct military contexts, including British Victorian and Georgian army and navy pieces, American Civil War revolvers, French Napoleonic items, and Indo-Persian daggers.
Buyers will most frequently encounter percussion pistols and military revolvers alongside edged forms such as bayonets and naval dirks originating from the nineteenth century.
Materials and construction
Makers utilised robust metals such as steel, iron, and brass for barrels, frames, and mountings, ensuring durability in active service conditions.
Grips and stocks were typically fashioned from dense woods like walnut or other hardwoods, occasionally complemented by leather scabbards and wire wrappings.
19th Century Sidearm Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for 19th century sidearm among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature steel, brass, iron, and walnut across Victorian military, Georgian, and Napoleonic styles.
Distinctions in quality
The level of refinement in metal finishing and the crispness of engraving on locks and mountings separate standard military issue pieces from officer-grade private purchases.
The integrity of matching components and the preservation of original wooden grips significantly influence the overall standard of a specimen.
Deane Adams And Deane·Colt
The 19th Century Sidearm Glossary
- Percussion system
- A nineteenth-century ignition method using a small percussion cap struck by the hammer to fire the charge.
- Smoothbore
- A barrel without rifling grooves inside, standard for many early military pistols before the widespread adoption of rifled barrels.
- Sidearm
- A personal weapon carried at the waist or in a holster, distinct from standard-issue long guns like muskets and rifles.
- Katar
- An Indo-Persian push dagger characterised by its distinctive horizontal H-shaped grip.
19th Century Sidearm: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 19th century sidearm?
A 19th century sidearm is a personal weapon carried by military personnel during the eighteen hundreds, including firearms and edged instruments.
These pieces were utilised by officers and enlisted troops across various global conflicts and colonial campaigns.
Were these weapons used in the Civil War?
Certain sidearms on this page, such as Colt revolvers, saw direct service during the American Civil War.
U.S. martial issues carry specific government markings denoting military contract production.
How should I display a sidearm?
Sidearms can be housed in secure glass display cabinets or mounted safely on walls away from direct sunlight.
Maintaining stable room humidity preserves the historical steel and wooden components.