GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
RARE AND HISTORIC CASED COLT ROOT REVOLVER PRESENTED TO LT. DANIEL L. BRAINE IN 1861, LIFELONG NAVAL OFFICER AND HERO WHO RETIRED A REAR ADMIRAL.COLT1855 ROOT1227328Cal. 28. This is a very fine Type 2, Model 1855 Colt Root in standard configuration with 3-1/2" bbl. Gun is in proper Colt casing with correct mold and flask. Cyl is 5-shot with cabin/Indian fight scene roll marking. Gun retains much of its orig blue finish and has presentation on backstrap "LIEUT. E.W.HENRY TO / LIEUT. D.L. BRAINE 1861". Daniel L. Braine (1829-1898) was a true Navy career officer having left his New York home at the age of 17 to become a Midshipman on the "Austin" out of Galveston, Texas. Braine served on both the "Mississippi" and "John Adams" during the Mexican War. During the Civil War, he had his first command aboard the "Monticello" with his first engagement with the rebel battery at Sewell's Point at Hampton Roads, Virginia. Just prior to Braine's assignment as Acting Commander of the Monticello, he was given this revolver by Lt. Edmund Wilkes Henry who was assigned with Braine in New York City just prior to each of their reassignments in January, 1861. Braine was promoted to Lt. Commander, July, 1862 and was later Captain of the "Mississippi". Braine's last Civil War command was on the "Pequot". Braine would be involved in the capture of blockade runners, including the sinking of the well known blockade runner "Ella" while on this last Civil War command. Daniel Braine served on a total of 22 vessels during his naval tenure from 1846-1887, commanding the last eleven: Monticello, 1861; Vicksburg, 1863; Pequot, 1864; Shamokin, 1868; Juniata, 1873; Vermont, 1873; Colorado, 1875; Powhatan, 1879; Tristan Shandy, 188;, Lancaster, 1886; Talapossa, 1887. The USS Juniata which was under the command of Daniel Braine, made national headlines in 1873 when searching the Arctic for survivors of the ill-fated voyage of the USS Polaris. Braine was promoted from Commander to Captain in 1874, then Commodore in 1885, and finally Rear Admiral, September 4, 1887. Braine's grandson, Clinton Elgin Braine (1894-1951), was also a livelong naval officer; a Captain and Chief of Staff for Admiral Ingraham during WWII. In Daniel Braine's honor, the USS Braine, DD630 was commissioned March 7, 1943 and this destroyer was christened by the wife of his grandson who was currently on duty in the Pacific. This lot is accompanied by 3-first edition texts that Braine is mentioned in: The Navy in the Civil War - The Atlantic Coast, Daniel Ammen, 1883; The Rebel Shore - The Story of Union Sea Power in the Civil War, James Merrill, 1957; The Blockade-Runners - True Tales of Running the Yankee Blockade of the Confederate Coast, Dave Horner, 1968. Also accompanying, is a large binder of research and correspondence including early bills of sale, history, provenance and photographs and images of 18 vessels associated with Braine. PROVENANCE: Daniel Lawrence Braine, 1861-1898; Capt. Clinton E. Braine (grandson), USN; James S. Cox, about 1930; J. H. Goodyear, 1976. Published and pictured October, 1977 in The Monthly Bugle - The Pennsylvania Antique Gun Collections Association newsletter. CONDITION: Gun is overall very good to fine, retaining over half of it's orig blue, with scattered areas of staining. Inscription is easily read with some dinging marks as noted in photographs at top of backstrap. Stock retains 90% of its orig bright factory varnish. Markings are all crisp and clear. Cyl scene is 90%+ discernible. Mechanically, gun functions well with crisp rifling and bore. Casing is sound and solid still retaining numerous lead projectiles, a small screwdriver, a "Colt's Patent" marked, 2-cavity brass mold, correct with rounded handles for Root, double eagle with stars powder flask, orig cap tin with label and functional key. 51543-1 JS (8,000-12,000)