GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
LEECH & RIGDON CONFEDERATE REVOLVER.LEECH & RIGDONNAVY104036Cal. 36. This is a nice example of a totally orig, authentic and matching Leech & Rigdon maker marked revolver assembled in Augusta, GA in 1864. The firm of Leech & Rigdon started business in Memphis, TN and after being chased by advancing Union forces, moved their operations to Columbus, MS. where pistol production began, and then to Greensboro, Georgia and finally Augusta where this gun was made, being part of last Leech & Rigdon government contract. This gun is marked "LEECH & RIGDON CSA" on top flat of half-oct bbl housing. Matching SNs are found on bbl, loading arm, cylinder, frame, trigger guard, wedge, arbor, backstrap, bbl catch and grips are SNd in pencil on backstrap channel. This gun has all features consistent with this model including a cryptic mark "N" found on the front right web of trigger bow and also stamped twice on left front web which is quite unusual and may be the only example we've seen with cryptic stamped three times. Gun was made with no safety pins, solid hammer face with no slots, ball and pin loading arm type. There is no cap release groove in recoil shield. These features are typical and consistent to these Georgia made Confederate revolvers. The "CSA" marking on bbl is consistent with this gun being part of Confederate Government order that ends in the 1500 serial range. There are two detailed articles detailing the history of Leech & Rigdon revolvers published by the American Society of Arms Collectors in their journals by Ted Meredith originally and updated by Kent Wall. Copies of these articles will be included. These articles add to the primary research published by William Albaugh and William Gary in their texts on Confederate handguns. PROVENANCE: Ex-Don Bryan Collection; private collection, 1995. CONDITION: Very good overall. This gun has overall plum/brown patina to iron and light mustard patina to brass. Tiny traces of finish is found in well. SNs and bbl marking are all easily discerned. There is a wartime addition on buttstrap of an added brass lanyard ring which was well done and no doubt contemporary to the war. It is not uncommom to see lanyard cutouts on other Confederate guns, but rarely so well executed as on this well known example. Gun appears all orig and matching as noted with possible exception of wedge screw which matches gun nicely. Grips are well fit with hand worn patina, moderate edge wear. Mechanically functional with well discerned rifling in bore. 51571-8 JS (20,000-25,000)