November 3-4, 2017 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/4/2017
Factory letter states this revolver was shipped on August 7, 1861 to William Read & Son, Boston, Massachusetts in a shipment of ten guns. Finish was blue and plated. Read was the largest distributor of weapons in Boston at the time. Supplied numerous weapons to Union soldiers through private purchase. Since the record refers to 'plated' we must assume it refers to the plating on backstrap and trigger guard of which strong traces remain. Matching serial number on frame, trigger guard, backstrap, cylinder shaft, barrel, wedge, and loading lever. Case colors on frame have greyed out with strong Colt's patent stamp on left side. Owner's initials "G.W.M." carved into the butt. Octagon barrel and loading lever are basically grey patina with sharp legends. Sharp screw heads. Beautiful factory varnished one-piece walnut grips. 60% visible Naval scene on cylinder. Original nipples. Visible safety pins. Indexes and locks up perfectly. Strong rifling with minor black powder abrasion. Comes with an altered military holster with the flap removed, but in otherwise excellent condition. While not definitive, serial no. 108473 is recorded as a revolver used by the Tennessee Cavalry CSA. Excellent, all original, clean example of a revolver issued very early during the war.
Caliber/Bore
.36 Percussion