GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXCEPTIONAL INSCRIBED SPILLER & BURR REVOLVER OF CONFEDERATE SURGEON THOMAS HILL 3RD REGIMENT NORTH CAROLINA ARTILLERY.SPILLER & BURRNAVY23936Cal. 36. Spiller & Burr Revolvers were made in Atlanta and then Macon, Georgia with a total production of less than 1,500 guns. This particular brass framed copy of a Whitney revolver is the most difficult of the major Confederate manufacturers to find complete and orig. It is also difficult to find these guns with the firm marking on bbl and cylinders that are SNd. This gun exhibits both these features and also has the inscription: "Dr THOS. HILL" on the brass butt strap. Dr. Thomas Hill was a Confederate surgeon commissioned June 10, 1862 to the 40th NC State Troops which was the 3rd North Carolina Light Artillery. Dr. Hill is shown on rosters as surgeon assigned to several different North Carolina and Virginia hospitals until his discharge at Salisbury, NC, May 3, 1865. This particular gun, based on SN, was very likely in the 3rd lot of Spiller & Burrs manufactured in August, 1863 at Atlanta, GA. Dr. Hill is known at that time to have been stationed in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Confederate General Hospital No. 8. There are various thoughts as to why so few Spillers have SNd cylinders and firm names on bbl. Regardless of reasons this is among the best examples with these features and most likely the only gun with these features and a period inscription to a Confederate officer. This particular gun is fitted with a high quality set of burled walnut grips with fine color and grain, rarely seen on any Confederate handgun. PROVENANCE: Family of Donald Williams, Greensboro, NC. linear relatives on Dr. Hill's mother's side of the family; Pete Pederson, Castle Rock, Colorado, 1996; Steve and Linda Evans; Steve Mullinax Collection; Pictured on pg 122 "Arming the Glorious Cause" by Whisker, Hartzler & Yantz; Don & Kathlee Bryan Collection, 1998. CONDITION: Fine to very fine overall. Bbl and cyl are mottled gray/plum overall with hints of thin original blue in protected areas with fairly sharp edges; well struck discernible SNs. Brass has smooth mustard color patina. Loading arm and hammer show hints of case color though overall silver/gray with scattered staining and light pitting. Matching SN 239 is found on bbl, loading lever, cyl, frame, and penciled on each grip half. Cyl pin is numbered "17" with matching color to rest of gun. SN 17 could very well have been used in an early open frame first model that failed with some of the parts reused in a later gun. Mechanically, the cyl advances sporadically though hammer holds cock and half-cock with good spring tension. Bore is smooth with discernible rifling. The accompanying holster is very good to fine overall, fits gun well, with contemporarily added loop for closure as finial is long missing, 2" closure loop has broken thread on right side otherwise holster appears original with interesting original chain stitch over bottom half of edge seam, top half sewing appears restored. 50122-1 JS (40,000-60,000)