Rare, Desirable and Iconic U.S. Inspected and 1887 Dated Colt Model 1883 Gatling Gun with Field Carriage

This is an exceptional, U.S. Government–inspected example of a Colt Model 1883 Gatling gun with original field carriage, shipped to the U.S. Army on May 20, 1887.

Ahead of the Accles drum magazine, the casing is marked/engraved:
“MANUFD BY/Colt’s Pat F.A. Mfg. Co/HARTFORD CONN.” accented with light scrollwork. Behind the magazine is the “1887” date stamp above a round plaque marked:

“GATLING’S/BATTERY/GUN/PAT. NOV 4. 1862/MAY 9. 1865/FEB 28. 1871/APR 9. 1872/MADE BY COLT’S/PT. FIRE ARMS/MFG. CO./HARTFORD, CONN/USA.”

Below the plaque is David F. Clark’s “D.F.C.” inspection mark over:

“MODEL 1883/No-463/CAL. 45.”
At the rear are paired arrows pointing to the breech with one aimed toward the muzzle, along with “GA” markings. The trunnions are marked “U.S.”

Two original brass Accles drum magazines are included—one bearing Clark’s inspection mark and the other unmarked. These distinctive “donut” drums, the most advanced feed system of the Gatling era, held 104 rounds but required meticulous maintenance to remain functional. Though faster and more efficient than earlier box magazines, they were vulnerable to dirt, dents, or mishandling, limiting their effectiveness in sustained field use.

The gun is mounted on its original U.S. inspected carriage, marked “WATERVLIET ARSENAL 1886 US5” on the front axle. The wheels are marked “ARCHIBALD WHEEL CO. LAWRENCE MASS.” The carriage features storage compartments for magazines and equipment—one top-opening and one rear-hinged—measuring just over 4 feet 2 inches in length, with wheels approximately 4 feet 7 inches tall, spaced 6 feet 3 inches apart. The height to the top of the magazine is 5 1/2 feet.

Invented in 1861 by Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling, the Gatling gun was first patented for “Improvements in Revolving Battery Guns” and saw its initial combat use by Union forces during the Battle of Petersburg. Gatling’s vision was to reduce battlefield deaths by making smaller armies more effective—reducing the spread of disease in large encampments—through an unprecedented rate of fire. Early Gatlings could fire 200 rounds per minute; later variants reached rates as high as 1,500 rounds per minute. The Model 1883’s firing speed was variable, depending on which lever was engaged and the operator’s cranking speed.

This model featured dual sighting systems to accommodate either 405- or 500-grain bullets without re-zeroing. In the field, they excelled at breaking massed attacks, providing suppressive fire, and intimidating the enemy—often compelling retreat or surrender at the mere sight of its multiple muzzles. As Wahl and Toppel note in The Gatling Gun:
“Time and again, during its long history, the Gatling Gun proved itself a ‘super riot gun’—a little of its characteristic ‘music’ or just the sight of its menacing multiple muzzles was usually enough to discourage a mob.”

Gatling guns saw service worldwide and were highly favored in naval applications, replacing heavier grape-shot artillery pieces. They were adaptable to a range of mounts, from full-size field carriages like this example to light tripods for police or defensive use. Although declared obsolete before World War I in favor of Maxim and Browning designs, the Gatling concept directly inspired later multi-barrel weapons such as the Vulcan and Minigun—proving the enduring value of extremely high rates of fire in modern warfare.