November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
1856 vintage Colt 1851 Navy single action percussion revolver, serial number 61796. 7 - 1/2" octagon barrel in .36 caliber with cone front sight, single line Colt New York barrel address, and hammer notch rear sight. 1-piece plain walnut grips. Matching serial numbers observed at barrel, wedge, cylinder arbor, cylinder, frame, trigger guard, and butt. Comes with leather military flap holster maker marked on flap "J. Davy & Co. / Newark, N.J.". Revolver is inscribed “William Ryan” in script on the backstrap. William R. Ryan of Baltimore took part in more than one colorful scheme against Federal authorities in Maryland. He enlisted as corporal on June 15, 1861 in the Zarvona Zouaves, brainchild of Richard Thomas, a well-connected Marylander and soldier/adventurer who had added the exotic sounding Zarvona to his name. On June 28 Zarvona, disguised in a dress and pretending to be a French speaking woman, led band onto the steamer St. Nicholas, who then hijacked the ship with the intention of using it to board and take the USS Pawnee. The Pawnee escaped, but Zarvona took some other vessels, gaining a good deal of notoriety, accusations of piracy, and eventually a jail cell. Ryan and the rest of Zarvona’s men eventually become Company H, 47th Virginia, and briefly part of an Arkansas battalion until discharged in June 1862. Ryan enlisted again soon after, on July 22, 1862, as a private in Company A, 3rd Virginia Cavalry. The regiment saw a lot of action while Ryan was with it, both in small actions and larger affairs such as Kelly's Ford, Brandy Station, Aldie, Middleburg, and the Gettysburg campaign. He was captured on July 5, 1863 at Williamsport in the retreat from Gettysburg, and ended up incarcerated at Fort Delaware and Point Lookout, finally taking the oath of allegiance on April 27, 1865. The revolver is accompanied by a folder with notes on configuration, research regarding Corporal William R. Ryan's service history, copies of muster and prisoner of war rolls, photo copy of page 229 of "Confederate Presentation Inscribed Swords and Revolvers", copy of page 189 of "A Band of Brothers Photographic Epilogue to Marylanders in the Confederacy", and a handwritten note from a family member of Corporal Ryan stating that he was next to Francis Maloney when he was killed during the Baltimore Riot of 1861. CONDITION: Very good, with iron assemblies turned an even brown patina. Hammer and rammer assembly are modern replacements. Grips are very good with handling marks, chips at toe, and small gouge on right grip panel. Mechanically fine as rebuilt at time of repair. Bore is dark with visible rifling. Holster is good, with leather pliable, cracking and finish loss throughout, and tight stitching.