GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
UNIQUE CONFEDERATE C.H. RIGDON 5″ BARRELED REVOLVER.CH RIGDONPOCKETNSN36Cal. 36. For the Confederate handgun collector who wants every model, this is the only "Pocket Sized" revolver known. There are only 6 C.H. Rigdon marked pistols known and the other 5 are all standard Navy models with 7-1/2" bbls. This gun is pictured in William Albaugh's text Confederate Arms,1957. Albaugh comments that in his opinion, "This is the arm from which the Rigdon-Ansley were modeled." In Frank Seller's and Sam Smith's book American Percussion Revolvers Sam Smith states that he believed this gun to have been Charles Rigdon's personal gun. This gun has remained in the same collection for all these years until 2013. Regardless of the thoughts of these respected early authors on Confederate arms, studying the other Rigdon revolvers known, I have little doubt that this gun was made near the end of production. There is no doubt this gun was made as a 5" barreled revolver and is not simply a "cut-down" Navy revolver. The cylinder is over 5% shorter than standard production Rigdon & Ansley revolvers. The back of frame and arbor are correspondingly milled to accept this shorter cylinder. In the opinion of this cataloger, this gun, like a few late Griswold's and Spiller & Burr's, were privately purchased and had non-military features such as special finishes and higher grade grips, such as the burled and varnished grips seen on this unique gun. The loading assembly latch, bbl catch and front sight are identically made to those seen on late production Rigdon & Ansley's, further substantiating the originality and authenticity of this unique revolver. There is only one other identically marked "CH RIGDON" revolver and it is among the highest SN of standard Rigdon & Ansley production, 2316. One other "CH RIGDON" gun is known, also marked "AUGUSTA GA", that being SN 1490, which is among the earliest 12 stop revolvers (1482 is lowest SN known, no maker's mark). Three other "CSA" marked and inspected "CH RIGDON, AUGUSTA GA" standard Navy revolvers are known (SN 2154, 2180 and 2182). Two features that stand out substantiating this gun as late production are the "milled cap release channel" and wedge is "non-spring" type (first seen approximately SN 2150). When Herman Stumpf sold his gun collection in the 1950's he only retained this unique 5" "pocket sized" revolver he felt was Charles Rigdon's personal gun. This gun is in wonderful condition for a Confederate revolver. PROVENANCE: Herman Stumpf collection; pictured pg 13 Albaugh "Confederate Arms', 1957; pictured and described in Sellers & Smith "American Percussion Revolvers", 1971; Outstanding estate collection of Confederate and historical arms of Morris Racker. CONDITION: Very good to fine overall. Appears all orig and authentic with exception of lap welded repair to mainspring and missing screw in backstrap. Metal overall is gray with tiny traces of blue finish in protected areas with scattered staining and pitting. Brass backstrap and trigger guard have mustard colored patina. Stocks retain 40-50% of their orig varnish. Rifling in bbl is well defined, though pitted overall. Gun functions mechanically though mainspring is weak. There are discernible tool marks on frame, bbl and cyl, typical of other late production guns. Maker's mark on bbl is easily discerned, as can be seen in photos. A rebound of die can be seen in a ghost of some letters, this is noted also on other examples as marking identical on all. There are no other external marks but internally there are a pair of punch marks on wedge and backstrap. There is a large punch mark on left side of trigger guard that possibly removed "cryptic" often seen stamped on standard production Augusta made revolvers. 51957-2 JS (30,000-40,000)