November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Nickel finished .38 Single Action First Model Baby Russian revolver shipped February 19, 1881 to M. W. Robinson of New York per included 1966 dated Smith & Wesson research. Features include 4" barrel, half moon front sight, notch rear, top break action, 5-shot fluted cylinder, spur trigger, and 2-piece checkered hard rubber "S&W" monogram grips. The backstrap is engraved, “From Col. Harry Gilmor to Col. Henry W. Janes U.S.A.”. The presentation likely dates from 1875 to 1878 when Janes was in charge of the Baltimore Depot and Gilmor was Baltimore City Police Commissioner. Henry Warner Janes was born in New York but served as a 1st Lieutenant and Quartermaster of the 55th Illinois, from October 31, 1861 to August 10, 1863. He was promoted to Captain and Assistant Quartermaster U.S. Volunteers on July 31- November 17, 1863, and to the same rank in the regular army October 30, 1863. He was promoted to Major and Quartermaster in June 1879 and retired in July. He was breveted Major US Army and Lt. Colonel US Volunteers to date March 13, 1865 for faithful and meritorious service in the war. Janes had been an efficient and respected army officer by one newspaper account, though of a “nervous temperament,” reportedly suffered mental problems after suffering a near fatal fever while serving on the frontier after the war, and was further affected by the death of a daughter from typhoid during his posting at Baltimore. During a subsequent assignment in Montana, he reportedly destroyed a large amount of government supplies, and at one point was found wandering the plains alone, having dismissed his escort and chopped up the ambulance in which he was traveling with an ax. After several months in asylums, he tried to be reinstated in the army, even publishing a booklet titled, “Military Record of Henry W. Janes, Major and Quartermaster, Retired Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. A. What was Done to Him, and what He Desires to be Done for Him.” He attempted suicide in New York with a sword cane in 1881 and was again committed to an insane asylum. He died at an asylum in Poughkeepsie on February 16, 1883. It should be noted that this revolver is of the same configuration as those acquired for the Baltimore City Police starting in 1876, with Gilmore serving as the police commissioner from 1874 to 1879. Revolver was formerly of the Norm Flayderman Collection and is accompanied by copies of numerous Civil War documents relating to Janes. Also included are several photographs of Janes, including a copy of the iconic photo of General Grant's staff taken at City Point in 1864, which shows Janes standing with the General. CONDITION: Excellent. Revolver retains nearly all of the bright factory nickel finish showing a few minor spots of loss and a lightly scratched surface. Hammer also retains significant portions of original faded case colors. Grips are especially fine displaying sharp checkering. Good bore showing defined rifling. Tight lockup. BAS
Model
2nd Model, 1st Issue
Paperwork
Folder of Provenance