GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
EXTREMELY FINE CONFEDERATE 1ST MODEL GRISWOLD REVOLVER.GRISWOLDNAVY121836Cal. 36. This most popular brass framed revolver was made by Samuel Griswold from converted cotton gin factory near Macon, Georgia. Confederate soldiers lucky enough to be issued a Confederate made "Colt" often wrote of their pride in ownership of such high Southern quality. Rare are these revolvers in high condition. This is a 1st Model Griswold revolver having rnd bbl housing being among the finest "as found" 100% orig, matching and authentic examples. This gun overall is in very good condition by NRA standards but extremely fine and among the best for Confederate revolvers. Brass has rich, beautiful mustard and copper-colored patinas with dark matching colors on iron with traces of bright orig blue. This gun is SN'd 1218 on right side of bbl housing, frame, and cylinder. Secondary number "18" found stamped on wedge, hammer, loading arm, plunger, left side of trigger guard, right side of backstrap and penciled in grip frame channel. A cryptic "T" is found on bottom of bbl, back of frame, right side of trigger guard, right side of backstrap, and back of cylinder. A Roman numeral "III" is found on left side of backstrap and trigger guard. This extremely fine 1st Model Griswold revolver ranks in the top 10% of all surviving Confederate brass framed revolvers as to quality and aesthetics. PROVENANCE: Fred Slaton Collection, Nebo, KY; Lifetime Collection of Dr. Zack Catterton. CONDITION: Overall very good-fine, well fit and matching. Complete and orig, missing only wedge screw. Of the numerous Griswold revolvers that I have examined over many years, I have not seen a more pleasing, honest, unadulterated example. Metal is sharp overall and has dark contrasting patinas exhibiting smooth surfaces with some light pitting and nicks and dings on bbl housing. Cylinder retains all 6 safety pins; ratcheting is still crisp and cryptic sharp. Grips are very well fit with hand worn patina with light, minor dings and dents, edge wear and chip to left inside toe. All markings are crisp and clearly struck including the cryptic marks which are especially vivid on this example. Mechanically, revolver is sound. Crisp, strong rifling with light areas of pitting in the bore. Loading arm, cylinder and hammer have a blue/black color, seen occasionally on high condition Georgia made revolvers that contrast well with the distinct patinas of frame and trigger guard. 51566-5 JS (25,000-30,000)