November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Manufactured from 1863 to 1875, with the majority going to Civil War military contracts. Standard configuration with various inspector marks throughout. 8" .44 caliber octagonal barrel marked on top flat with 3-line address. Blade front sight and frame notch rear. 6-shot non fluted cylinder. Fit with 2-piece walnut grips, marked on left panel with an illegible cartouche. Hand carved with a flower with 6 petals inside a circle on top of cartouche area on left panel, with matching flower on right grip panel. Accompanying this lot is a folder of research and a notarized letter that attributes this revolver to Captain John Williams. Hartzler’s notes indicate John Williams was master of the schooner Mary Virginia out of Baltimore and took his vessel south for Confederate service. He connects it with the steamer Mary Virginia, under Captain John Williams, which is documented as a Confederate privateer in the Department of the Gulf by early 1864 and at one point served as tender to the Confederate Ironclad Tennessee. A 1973 affidavit identifies the pistol as descending from the grandfather of Vernon J. Phillips of Pikesville, who would be Captain John Williams, born in Pennsylvania in 1827 and died in Baltimore on December 19, 1883. The affidavit identifies him as master of a blockade runner “St. Mary’s,” purportedly destroyed in the St. John’s River, Florida, by Federal forces. Records are confused by varying and overlapping ship names, but the descent of the pistol from “Capt. John Williams” to Mr. Phillips through his mother, Margaret May Williams Phillips seems clear. This revolver is featured on page 335 of "Confederate Presentation and Inscribed Swords and Revolvers" and a photocopy of the page is included. CONDITION: Good with vast majority of iron assemblies turned a speckled brown patina with areas of original bluing in well protected areas. Brass trigger guard has turned a pleasant mellow patina. Grips are very good with no major signs of distress. Action is loose, and will not hold on full cock. Bore is dark with visible rifling.
Paperwork
Folder of Provenance