GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
COLUMBUS FIREARMS MANUFACTURING COMPANY CONFEDERATE REVOLVER. COLUMBUS NAVY 23 36 Cal. 36. This is the rarest of all marked Confederate revolvers; only 3 specimens have survived and this example is no doubt the finest. Other examples known are SN 46 which is from the Richard Steuart Collection owned by the Virginia Historical Society. SN 34 once in the Don Bryan Collection was sold privately and replaced with SN 23 offered here. This example is published in several texts, to include Confederate Handguns, by William Albaugh, 1963. It is of note that there are numerous fake Columbus Firearms revolvers, several in published references, however, the most scholarly research has shown the only 3 original guns are SNs 23, 34, and 46. This gun is marked on left side of cyl "COLUMBUS FIREARMS / MANUF. CO / COLUMBUS GA / 23". This identical marking occurs on SN 34 other than the SN; SN 46 is unmarked. The bbl on this revolver is marked "COLUMBUS GA" just like SN 34; SN 46 also contains "COLUMBUS FIREARMS / MANUF. CO" above city and state. A loose bbl SN 94 is also marked like SN 46 making it the only other part of a Columbus revolver known. Based on this limited census, it would be logical that this manufacturer quit marking the cyls and combined the markings to the bbl later in manufacture. Though it can be guessed based on period Confederate records that there may have been as many as 1000 revolvers envisioned to be made, today there are only 3 known and 1 loose bbl. It is extremely unlikely that production even remotely approached that height as a new example has not surfaced in over 50 years, though numerous fakes have been made and offered. It is known that when Federal General Winslow captured Columbus GA., he destroyed "Haiman''s Pistol Factory". William Albaugh in Confederate Handguns notes several newspaper accounts telling of the pistol manufactory but only one newspaper account mentions examination of a revolver, May 3rd, 1863, from the Augusta Daily Chronicle & Sentinel (taken from the Columbus Times). "HAIMANS REPEATER. We have had shown us a beautiful repeating pistol, the first out by the Columbus Firearms Mfg. Co. We take the liberty of naming it Haiman''s Repeater.... It is handsomely mounted with polished brass & the barrel & other parts are beautifully blued. The revolving machinery works quick & exact & quite easy...it is the same pattern as Colts celebrated repeater the company have (sic) a large number of various parts of the (sic) pistol shaped out which will be finished and put together so soon as the new buildings which are now being erected just above the Saber manufactory are ready to receive the workman, which will be within a short time." There is a large file of paperwork, correspondence and research concerning Louis Haiman and his Columbus Firearms Manufacturing Co., much of which can be seen on the provenance link on the Julia website listing this specific gun. If you wanted to start a collection of every major Confederate military manufacturer of revolvers, you have to buy this one. PROVENANCE: Harry Brooks, Dallas, TX.; Pictured in The Texas Gun Collector, Issue 36, July 1953; Jackson Arms; William A. Bond, Vernon, TX. December 1959; Conestoga Auctions, Lot #566, July 5, 1994; Don & Kathlee Bryan Collection. CONDITION: Fine overall. All is matching, complete, and original. Matching SN 23 is found on bbl, frame, trigger guard, backstrap and cyl, other parts are not numbered, but every part appears to be original including screws, there is a very old braised repair to tip of arbor that is not easily discerned and of course internal. Bbl retains about 20% bright blue finish with balance plum/gray. Cyl is overall plum/gray with scattered small blemishes. All 6 safety pins are discernible; 2 nipples are fractured. Frame and hammer show some finish in protected areas with balance dark gray/silver. Grips are sound and well fit with hand worn patina and small chip to left inside toe. Mechanically gun is sluggish with crisp distinct rifling in bore. 50122-11 JS (150,000-200,000)