July 24-25, 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2015
According to the Colt Factory Research letter, this revolver was shipped to Wm. Read & Sons in Boston, Massachusetts on April 20th, 1861 in a 50 gun shipment. It letters as a .31 caliber with 6" barrel, blued finish and wood stocks. This is where the interesting aspect of this revolver begins. Thomas Strangman enlisted in the 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on July 1st, 1861 in Boston, three months after this revolver was sent to William Read. Enlisted men were not issued Government revolvers and most new recruits purchased small arms for their personal protection during the Great Conflict. Mr. Strangman, once enlisted, soon rose to the rank of Sergeant at the head of his company (E 1st Regiment) under the famous general Joe Hooker. He was wounded in his first skirmish on June 26th, 1862 but returned quickly to duty where he served honorably until he was mustered out on May 25th of 1864. He was locally famed as a carriage maker and lived until 1909. It is possible that Mr. Strangman purchased this side arm and carried it as personal protection during the war, but this is speculation. What is known is that this revolver was dealer engraved and fully nickel plated and given to Thomas Strangman by the "90 Hose Fire Brigade" as a gift and is so inscribed on backstrap. On the butt is engraved "Milton, May 1861" which coincides with the town in which Mr. Strangman lived and the date of his enlistment. In addition, all of the battles of the Civil War in which the 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry had been involved have been block engraved on the octagon barrel flats to include: (right side) Blackburns Ford, Bull Run, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Glendale, and Malvern Hill 1st. Top flat: Malvern Hill 2nd, Bristow Station, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Left flat: Wapping Heights, Locusts Grove, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg Road. Several of these battles were amongst the bloodiest and most noteworthy battles of the War. The gun remains in lovely near mint condition as engraved, inscribed and plated retaining approximately 95% of this finish. The Colt patent on left side of frame is a bit thin. Has all matching numbers including wedge and loading lever. The cylinder scene remains partially visible. Original nipples. Action is perfect. Bore is very good. Original varnished one piece walnut grips are very good with finish loss and minor chipping on high edges. Colt barrel address is perfect. Gun is a full nickel plate. The gun is accompanied by an original period flap holster and an original hard cover book entitled "The First Massachusetts Regiment" by Warran Cudworth who was the regiment chaplain. Mr. Strangman is listed several times. The book is filled with the exploits of this company throughout the war. Also included are photocopies of Mr. Strangman's diary in 1861 and other documents pertaining to his life and death. Seldom is a revolver with such an interesting history and inscription ID'd to a combatant of so many bloody battles. Truly, a piece of Civil War history and a silent witness to the greatest cataclysmic event of the 19th century.