October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/1/2018
Standard Sheriff's Model manufactured sans ejector with six shot, double action, nickel finish and black composite grips. This revolver was renickeled at one time leaving barrel legends extremely soft. Three line patent date on frame. Engraved on backstrap "Metropolitan Police Dept. DC". CONDITON: Revolver retains approximately 95% of the reapplied nickel finish. Indexes and locks up fine. Well defined rifled bore with black powder abrasion. Original grips fit tight but are worn smooth in spots. This police department was established at the beginning of e Civil War and they were integral to the investigation of the assassination of President James Garfield in 1881. It is interesting to note that they once arrested President Ulysses S. Grant for speeding, issuing four citations and upon the fourth citation he sped off, resulting in his arrest. Factory letter states serial number 14555 shipped with 3-1/2" barrel, nickel finish, rubber grips, in .38 caliber to J.P. Moore's & Sons, New York on August 13th, 1879 in a 252 gun shipment with a note "for Maj. Theo P. Morgan". We researched Morgan on the Metropolitan Police Website and found a Major Thomas P. Morgan who was with the department and who retired in November of 1879, three months after this gun was shipped. We are sure this is the same person and was probably a typo on the factory ledger. The following is information on Thomas P. Morgan: Major Thomas P. Morgan was born in 1821 in the town of Alexandria (Virginia) when Alexandria was part of the District of Columbia. In 1873 he was placed on the Board of Fire Commissioners, where he remained until February 2, 1878, at which time he was selected to replace Major A.C. Richards and the now defunct Police Board of Commissioners, which had been dissolved by President Grant. During his brief tenure as Chief of Police, Morgan oversaw the addition of an ambulance service maintained by the police department, and saw that a retirement provision was made for the older policemen who had served for many years, but were no longer physically capable of performing their duties. Major Morgan was quickly made District Commissioner, less than two years after being appointed to the police department. He resigned as Superintendent on November 29, 1879, and took over the office of Commissioner. He then retired from public life and returned to his businesses.