GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
RARE CONFEDERATE "AUGUSTA, GA CSA" MARKED RIGDON & ANSLEY REVOLVER. RIGDON & ANSLEY NAVY 1656 36 Cal. 36. There are only 18 known early model Rigdon & Ansleys with the "AUGUSTA, GA CSA" address. The highest known SN with this marking is "1689". All SNs on this revolver are stamped with the correct small number dies. It is also to be noted that the number "1" is a broken die which became broken at pistol #1237, continuing to be used through the small-die run to R&A pistol #1900, or thereabouts. This gun has cryptic "W" stamped upside down on rear left of trigger guard. Gun appears all orig with matching SNs "1656" that are found on bbl housing, latch, loading arm, frame, arbor, cylinder, backstrap, trigger guard and wedge. The grips are also SNd internally in the channel. Top bbl flat is inspected "CSA" just rear of the rare "AUGUSTA, GA" bbl marking. Sometime in late November or early December of 1862, the firm of Leech & Rigdon, then located in Columbus, Mississippi, contracted with the Confederate Government to manufacture percussion revolvers of the Colt patent design, though contract was not signed for 1500 guns until firm settled in Greensboro, GA. With Union troops threatening the Columbus area, Leech & Rigdon moved its operation (its third move) to Greensboro, Georgia, where they began turning out revolvers in March of 1863. Approximately 1000 revolvers were produced at Greensboro, before it was again necessary to move because of Yankee pressure in the area. The Leech & Rigdon partnership split up in January of 1864, and Rigdon took all the gun-making machinery with him, moved to Augusta, Georgia (the fourth and last move) forming a new partnership with Jesse Ansley. Rigdon & Ansley assumed the responsibility of completing the orig Leech & Rigdon contract, by manufacturing the remaining 500 revolvers of that model, then going on with a new contract to furnish 1500 Rigdon & Ansley revolvers. While the Rigdon & Ansley revolvers were practically identical in design to the Leech & Rigdons, there were some changes made which were considered improvements at the time. The most obvious change was the addition of six (6) more cylinder stops on the Rigdon & Ansley, and the omission of the locking pins on the rear shoulders of the cylinder. This was thought to be a safety improvement in that it allowed the cylinder to be locked in place with the hammer resting between the percussion nipples. An additional change was the milling-out of a groove in the recoil shield, which now came to be called a "cap release groove", which allowed spent percussion caps an easier exit from the frame, so that they were expelled via the groove at the right top side of the recoil shields as the cylinder rotated to the right in the firing and re-cocking procedure, after each round was fired. This "cap release groove" is found on this revolver along with the employment of a "Colt-type" loading lever latching assembly, rather than Leech & Rigdon ball and pin type catches. This is a pleasing example of Georgia made Rigdon & Ansley revolver with good aesthetics. PROVENANCE: Jackson Arms, Catalog 23, Dallas, TX, 1966; William Hozie, Crozet, VA, 1974; Herb Rosenthal, Great Guns, 1976; Ted Meredith, Boca Raton, FL, 1983; Bob Lewis Collection, Tujunga, CA; Outstanding estate collection of Confederate and historical arms of Morris Racker. CONDITION: Good to very good overall. Gun appears orig throughout, though several screws appear replaced, but are excellent restorations. The grips are SNd internally but have a slightly different profile than those typical of this manufacturer and are probably old restorations. Metal is mottled gray overall with old cleaning. Brass has light mustard patina with old cleaning. Gun appears to have been painted red at one time with traces of paint visible in protected areas. This was possibly done as a captured souvenir. Markings are mostly discernible though SN is weak on bbl housing and cylinder. "Augusta" is quite weak though several letters are discerned, "GA" and "CSA" are discernible. There is muzzle wear, loading arm is a bit loose. Grips are well fit with hand worn patina with tacking marks at butt. Mechanically gun is functional with discernible rifling in pitted bore. 51957-10 JS (15,000-25,000)