GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXTREMELY RARE 1ST MODEL 1ST TYPE GRISWOLD & GUNNISON REVOLVER, PROBABLE NEW ORLEANS PRODUCTION.GRISWOLD1ST TYPE9036 CALCal. 36. This revolver is one of only 4 known examples of the earliest production of Confederate revolvers during the Civil War. These earliest brass frame revolvers were possibly made in New Orleans prior to machinery being shipped to Griswoldville, GA, or at least parts manufactured in New Orleans that were assembled in Griswoldville. Near the war's beginning, Samuel Griswold made pole arms for the State of Georgia and started the manufacture of revolvers based on Samuel Colt's popular model 1851 Navy revolver. Colt-style revolvers utilizing his "patented ratcheted, rotating and locking cylinder" could only have been made legally with Colt's approval and with payment of royalties, which was not necessary in the Confederate States which did not recognize Union law. Function and design closely emulate the Colt, though the frame is brass and the barrel round, more like that of Colt Dragoon revolvers. Brass was utilized in frames due to the lack of steel and the ease among the skilled slaves and free workmen for working this metal. Lack of steel also caused an innovation in iron being twisted when red hot to give it strength and temper. Twist lines are easily seen in the cylinder of this gun. These earliest Griswold & Gunnison revolvers are all numbered under serial number 100. The few examples that are known to me are serial numbers 8, 30, 64 and 90. These early first models have smaller oval trigger guards than later models. This is really the only visible difference that is easily seen externally; however, under closer scrutiny, there are other differences internally that were changed to strengthen later standard production pistols. These were subtle changes in adding cast pins to attach the barrel housing to the frame instead of using separate iron pins as were used on this revolver. The cylinder arbors also have a stronger form of attachment to the standard production models; one large wedge was fit into a groove of the arbor base that tied into frame. These early examples lack this stabilization. These design changes were necessitated after the first guns exhibited frame weakness and proved to be unserviceable after some use. This example, that apparently has not seen a lot of use, has a solid undamaged brass frame. There are cracks on the left side of the frame on both SN 8 and 30 pistols, showing this inherent design problem but not in this fine example.. . It has always been known among Confederate handguns researchers and authors that it was very possible that the earliest Griswold revolvers were possibly the product of A. N. Gunnison (Arvin Nye Gunnison) of New Orleans and not Samuel Griswold. Wiley Sword in his excellent text Firepower from Abroad published by Mowbray in 1986 states on pages 109-110: "While considerable information has been published about Samuel Griswold of Griswoldville, Georgia, there has been a corresponding lack of data about his partner, A. W. Gunnison. As it now appears, Gunnison was involved in manufacturing the Colt-type Navy revolver in New Orleans prior to the city's capture in late April 1862. Since a portion of his machinery was moved to Griswoldville, this undoubtedly was the basis for the conversion of the cotton gin/pike manufacturing facility of Griswold's into a revolver factory." A letter from A. N. Gunnison to the Confederate Secretary of War written from Macon, Georgia, May 14, 1862, also printed in Sword's book, stated: "I was involved in the manufacture of Colt's Navy revolver in New Orleans at the time of capture by the enemy, from which place I have escaped with portions of my machinery to re-establish the same work at Griswoldville....". . William Gary in his excellent text, Confederate Revolvers, shows two revolvers serial numbered 16 and 45 he believed to be made by Gunnison in New Orleans. I know of at least two other guns of the same configuration with different serial numbers (5 and 55), but always the same non-Griswold numeral die styles. In my opinion, these somewhat clunky-looking brass frames with second model features of half-octagonal barrel housing and typical large trigger guards associated with standard production guns are suspect as to actually being Civil War-produced guns-that is my shared opinion. Gary notes in his book on page 11, "While he (Gunnison) undoubtedly got most of his machinery out, he did not get his serial number dies and had to make new ones before starting production at Griswoldville." Mr. Gary was incorrect in this observation as serial numbers noted on known first model-first types 8, 30, 64 and 90 utilized the same dies that occur on other standard production Griswolds (for both serial numbers and cryptics), making previously published "Gunnison revolvers" unlikely in my opinion and making a strong case that the serial number 90 revolver offered here was indeed made in New Orleans early in 1862. This is one of the great rarities of Confederate revolver collecting and this is one of the 2 finest examples of only four extant. PROVENANCE: Bob Owens Collection, Cypress, Texas; Don & Kathlee Bryan Collection. CONDITION: Overall very good to fine. All matching; SN 90 is found on right side of bbl, frame, hammer and cyl, and left side of trigger guard, stamped inside grip opposite the backstrap channel, and on loading lever. There is a cryptic backwards "&" found on bottom of bbl near the latch, loading lever adjacent to SN, back of cyl, the right side of trigger guard and backstrap and right rear of frame. Wedge is spring type and appears original to gun though unmarked (a relatively identical numbered wedge of this type was excavated in the ruins of Griswold Revolver Factory). Revolver retains traces of original finish in protected area as well. Iron is overall a mottled plum/gray. Cyl shows distinct twist at deeper angle than I have noted in standard production 1st model and 2nd model Griswold's; this shows earliest experiments in twisting iron bar for production of cyl's. Brass frame, trigger guard and backstrap exhibit a dark olive/yellow patina. Grips are sound and fit well exhibiting about 60% of their original factory varnish. Note standard production Griswolds had oiled grips, only 1st model-1st types were varnished. Gun indexes sloppily with a very heavy mainspring pull with crisp well-defined bore. The accompanying military flap holster fits the gun nicely. Even with light restoration and re-finish, it displays well with this extremely rare revolver. 50122-5 JS (50,000-70,000)