GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
RARE INSCRIBED CONFEDERATE 2ND MODEL GRISWOLD REVOLVER OF CAPT. BEZALIEL BROWN, 7TH VIRGINIA INFANTRY, WHO WAS CAPTURED AFTER BEING WOUNDED DURING PICKETT'S CHARGE AT THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. GRISWOLD NAVY 2198 36 Cal. 36. This particular Griswold revolver was the first one identified as inscribed and was originally in the William Albaugh Collection pictured and described in his 1955 text The Confederate Brass-Framed Colt & Whitney , pgs 16-21 (an orig copy of this book is included in this lot). Pistol is commemoratively inscribed on backstrap "MAJOR B.G. BROWN COMPANY I, 7TH VA. REGt, C.S.A.". Brown was a member of the immortal 600 wounded and captured after Pickett's Charge. This gun has been in some of the most illustrious Confederate collections dating back to the 1940's. The most popular brass frame Griswold 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 standard 2nd model Griswold revolver having half oct bbl housing being among the finest examples, 100% orig, all matching, retaining strong traces of bright orig blue and case colors. Overall, this gun is in very good condition by NRA standards, but is extremely fine and among the best for Confederate revolvers. Brass has a smooth mustard patina and iron is smooth with silver/grey patina overall, with bright blue in protected areas. This gun is SN'd 2198 on right side of bbl housing, frame, and cyl. Secondary number "8" found stamped on wedge, hammer, loading arm, bottom of backstrap and bottom of trigger guard. Cryptic "A" is found on bottom of bbl near latch, back of frame, right side of trigger guard, right side of backstrap, and back of cyl. A Roman numeral "XI" is found on backstrap and trigger guard. This extremely fine Griswold revolver retaining strong orig finish ranks it in the top 2-3% of all surviving Confederate brass framed revolvers as to originality and finish. I know of few better examples, though none are inscribed. PROVENANCE: Richard Steuart Collection, Baltimore, MD, author of 1944 text "Firearms of the Confederacy"; William Albaugh Collection; Lewis Leigh, Jr., Leesburg, VA, 1968; pictured on pg 16 "Confederate Brass Framed Colt & Whitney", 1955; S. L. Hutchinson Collection; pictured and described, pgs 142-143 "Confederate Presentation & Inscribed Swords & Revolvers", Dan Hartzler, 1988; Bill Turner Collection, 1982; Cliff Serbin Collection, Williamsburg, VA; Don Bryan Collection; pictured and described on pg 106, "Arming the Glorious Cause", Whisker & Yantz, 1998; Outstanding estate collection of Confederate and historical arms of Morris Racker, 1998. CONDITION: Overall very good-fine, well fit and matching. Gun appears 100% orig including screws. Metal is overall smooth and cleaned. Iron is a silver/grey and brass is a light mustard with scattered small dings and dents and holster wear. Cyl shows good twist lines, slight battering to a couple of cones and safety pins are intact. Action is crisp with bright, clean bore. 51957-17 JS (25,000-35,000)