GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
EXTREMELY RARE AND FINEST KNOWN AUGUSTA MACHINE WORKS CONFEDERATE REVOLVER.AUGUSTA MACHINE WORKSNAVYK36Cal. 36. Without doubt, this is the best known, best provenanced and highest condition Confederate revolver made at the Augusta Machine Works. Less than 10 of these guns are known in this configuration. There is little information published on this particular manufacturer other than the government factory was located at the site of the Augusta Machine Works. Well known antebellum Augusta gunsmiths E.H. Rogers and W.D. Bowen were contractors for the Machine Works according to Bowen descendants. This particular revolver was the property of Lt. Col. Roswell M. Russell of the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry. This gun descended in the family of Charles H. Dorsey Jr who in 1959 was the managing editor of the Baltimore Sun. The gun was photographed and featured in a March 1960 Gun Report article as an unknown maker where several Confederate authorities recognized the gun as being Confederate. Hugh Benet from Baltimore immediately found the gun and featured it in his and William Albaugh co-authored text Confederate Handguns. Not only is the gun pictured and described in the text but it is also featured on the cover of this 1963 definitive text. As with most Augusta Machine pistols there are very few markings, some examples being marked only 2 or 3 times. However this gun is marked with SN or assembly number "K" on most parts including the unique "pinched" grips. This gun is in exemplary condition retaining vivid case colors on frame, hammer and loading assembly. PROVENANCE: Lt. Col. Roswell Moale Russell, 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, 1863; Charles H. Dorsey, Jr. through family descent; pictured and described pg 32-33 of "Gun Report", March 1960; pictured in "Confederate Handguns" on cover and described and pictured pg 5; Listed by SN on pg 45 of "Confederate Revolvers" by Bill Gary, 1987; Burney Crooke collection, Pensacola, Florida. Outstanding estate collection of Confederate and historical arms of Morris Racker. CONDITION: Fine overall. Gun has crisp, sharp lines retaining most of its case colors on frame and hammer. Plunger and rammer pivot also retain bright colors. The full octagonal 7-19/32" bbl retains bright finish in protected areas, though thinning, and bright overall. Cylinder retains much of its thin sky blue original finish. Grips are well fit retaining most of their varnished finish with moderate edge wear. Brass trigger guard and backstrap have a smooth, dark mustard patina. Mechanically, gun is functional with crisp, shiny rifled bore. There is an accompanying affidavit stating the gun's lineage. 51957-20 JS (30,000-50,000)