October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
First year fluted Army with 8” round barrel, German silver front sight and hand engraved “Saml Colt” address. Left side of frame has tiny “COLTS PATENT” and the silver-plated trigger guard and back strap contain a beautiful, solid, one piece ivory grip with the serial number in two places in the back strap channel. The back strap is inscribed in period script “T.K. Jackson U.S.A.”. This revolver was either presented to or purchased by Jackson when still a US Army officer, and carried by him after he resigned his commission and served in the Army of the Confederacy. This being the very earliest model, the outside of the cylinder does not have the patent date or serial number. Serial number is on the rear face of the cylinder between two of the nipples. It also has the serial number on the left side of the rammer handle. It additionally has inspector’s initials “JT” on the butt strap with a “T” on various other parts, including the bottom of the grip. The cylinder was double struck with “TT”. These marks are for the inspector John Taylor, who only inspected 1860 revolvers from 1861-1862. Accompanied by seven page letter by noted Colt researcher, historian and author R.L. Wilson detailing much of the above information. Mr. Wilson speculates that Mr. Jackson was someone of importance or had connections at the Colt plant in order to obtain one of the very first 1860 Army revolvers produced, with the hand engraved “Saml Colt” address and inscribed back strap. Mr. Wilson states that this revolver is a hand-built specimen as were most of the very earliest of each Model Colt revolver. Mr. Wilson thought so highly of this earliest of Models 1860 that he featured the back strap inscription of this revolver in color on page 155 of "The Colt Engraving Book Volume I", Wilson. Mr. Wilson, in his letter, speculates that this revolver could not have been delivered any later than April 15, 1861 and was likely delivered late in 1860. Thomas K. Jackson was born in South Carolina and appointed to West Point for the Class of 1848. He attended West Point from July 1, 1844 until July 1, 1848, graduating 25th in his class. He was promoted to 2nd Lt. in the 5th Infantry and served throughout the south and southwest, being promoted to 1st Lt. in 1855. He was an instructor at West Point from December 1857 to January 1858 and returned to frontier duty until 1861 when he resigned his commission and joined the Confederate army. It appears that Jackson became a captain in the commissary department under General Albert Johnston where he served at various postings until his unit, under Gen. Buckner, surrendered at Ft. Donelson, Tennessee. Apparently he remained a prisoner until the end of the war, after which he has been shown to have been a farmer and merchant in Gainesville, Alabama after 1866. PROVENANCE: Charles Radcliffe Collection. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching including wedge, rammer, hammer and grip. Metal retains an even light gray patina overall, having been cleaned a long time ago. Cylinder has traces of gold wash in the cylinder stop notches. Four of the six safety pins are intact. Frame retains traces of smokey case colors in the sheltered areas, otherwise is a light gray patina also. Grip frame retains about 80% original silver plating with light pimpling on the butt strap and loose silver-plating with dark patina on the back strap. Grips have a couple of age lines and a very old scratch near the frame and a minuscule chip at the heel. They are a beautiful light “streaky” mellow gold color. Strong bright bore with moderate pitting. From the collection of Jason Roselius.
Caliber/Bore
.44 Percussion