GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXTRAORDINARILY RARE AND UNIQUE "SISTERDALE TEXAS" DRAGOON ARMY REVOLVER. Highest Price attained for Confederate firearms sold at auction!SISTERDALEARMYNSN44 CALCal. 44. This fabulous and unique massive 44 cal. dragoon revolver has a most partially external complex mechanism for turning cyl as can be seen in photos. This gun is in wonderful condition with spectacular provenance and history, dating to its manufacture in 1862; long retained in the family of the Confederate soldier who not only carried it but who helped make it. Pistol was retained in family until 1974 and has been in the collections of only 2 preeminent Confederate Texas collectors until this offering. This massive gun measures over 14" overall with 7-3/4" bbl weighing 4lbs. Bill Gary in his 1987 text Confederate Revolvers dedicates an entire chapter to this unique survivor of which six were noted to have been made. Pictured in Lone Star and Double Eagle, Civil War letters of a German-Texas Family, by Minetta Goyne, 1982, pg. 67. A passage dated August 10, 1862, Camp Clark states, "Assembled to produce six-shooters for the army on or near the Ernst Kapp farm, not only the Coreth brothers, but at times also Adolph Munzenberger, August Schimmelpfennig, Hermann Kammerling, and a somewhat nebulous character variously called "Wilhelm der Schmidt" or "Schmidt Willem" all were involved in the project. All were under the direction of Alfred Kapp, who had special qualifications resulting from a tour of the eastern United States in 1856-57, during the course of which he had worked at the Colt factory in Hartford. Together these men produced a number of pistols (six, it is thought) that experts describe as combining certain features of the Colt, the Remington, the Smith and Wesson, and the Rogers and Spencer. Only one is known to exist today." The engineering excellence among this group of German-Americans in Sisterdale was amazing. This particular pistol is among the very finest of any made in the South, with fabulous aesthetics and the overall unique mechanism and horn grips. PROVENANCE: Joseph Coreth, New Braunfels, TX.; RC Coreth, about 1950; WW Creel, Wimberley, TX, March 4, 1952; Pictured on the cover of The Texas Gun Collector, Issue 20, March 1952; Loaned by Joe Coreth to Sophienburg Museum, New Braunfels, TX, 1957; Ottalia Coreth, 1974; Charles Schreiner III, Kerrville, TX; Displayed in a presentation entitled "Arms Made in Texas" at the 108th NRA Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, May 18, 1979; Pictured in The Texas Gun Trade, by Chris Hirsch, 2004; Don & Kathlee Bryan Collection. CONDITION: Fine overall retaining traces of finish, though most metal has turned a mottled plum. Mechanically, the gun functions quite well considering its complex exterior arm for pushing the cyl forward, with a spring loaded catch built into top strap that holds cyl in place. Horn grips fit fairly well with light shrinkage with good color, patina and some insect damage as can be seen in photos. Gun appears totally original and complete with exception of repaired narrow hand that moves cyl, and loading lever catch. Accompanying holster fits this gun well and is overall sound, solid and supple. Retaining original leather tab closure with silver-plated brass horseshoe shaped buckle. The accompanying 44 cal. brass bullet mold is well made copy of a Colt Dragoon type but with thinner iron sprue cutter, stamped with unknown initials "NW". 50122-7 JS (150,000-250,000)