April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2023
Campbell Graham Gilmor was born in 1842 and followed his brother, Harry Gilmor, in the Confederate service. He had first enlisted in Company B, 21st Virginia Infantry, but transferred on February 22, 1862 into Harry Gilmor’s company of Ashby’s 7th Virginia Cavalry, later designated as Company F, 12th Virginia Cavalry when Ashby’s large command was divided. He is listed as captured and paroled about December 29, 1862. When he returned to duty is unclear, but the regiment was active at Brandy Station, western Virginia, and in the Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns. He was on sick furlough at the Harrisonburg hospital in March 1864 and was transferred to the Maryland Line in April serving in Company F, 2nd Maryland Battalion Cavalry, putting him once again under his brother’s command for some of his most famous raids, including The Baltimore County/Magnolia Station Raid. Records have him taking the oath of allegiance at Mount Jackson on April 21, 1865, as a member of Company A. Gilmor passed away in 1920, but is survived by his unmarked Boyle & Gamble foot officer’s sword and his New Model Remington revolver that is engraved with his name on the trigger guard. Manufactured for use in the American Civil War, with a total of approximately 122,000 manufactured to keep up with the demand for a quality revolver to compete with the very popular Colts, Gilmor’s Remington New Model revolver features an 8” octagon barrel in .44 caliber with added dovetail blade front sight and added globe type rear sight. Hartzler notes indicate that the revolver was reworked by a gunsmith during the war with the sight and lanyard loop added for the convenience of the cavalryman. Martially sub-inspector marked on regular parts. Matching serial numbers observed at bottom of barrel and left of grip frame near butt. 2-piece walnut grips with added lanyard loop near butt. Left grip panel bears a faint cartouche. Trigger guard is engraved “C.G. Gilmor” in script. This inscription was likely done during the period, with the font and age of the engraving matching previously known examples. C. Graham Gilmor, was Colonel Harry Gilmor’s brother, whose Leech & Rigdon revolver is also in this auction and was inscribed by noted collector Henry Steuart in the 1900-1915 era after he purchased it from the family to preserve the history of the piece. CONDITION: Very good, turned a brown gray patina with light freckling throughout. Markings are crisp. Brass is a mellow patina. Grips are very good with minor finish loss at low edge and handling wear. Cartouche is illegible. Hammer functions correctly, with cylinder not holding on full cock. Bore is dark with visible rifling. The Boyle & Gamble sword features a slightly curved blade with single, wide, stopped fuller and no ricasso. The blade is decorated for about half its length with nicely etched foliate and patriotic motifs. Cast brass hilt with guard that features open work foliate and floral scrollwork with small and slightly folded counterguard. The guard terminates with a steeply angled quillon. Plain knucklebow with open slot for accommodation of a sword knot. Pommel is crudely cast with maple leaves which lead to a tiered cap. Grip is of wood, wrapped with black leather and grooved to accommodate a single strand of copper wire. CONDITION: The blade exhibits a gray patina which gets heavier toward the tip. Etched decorations are muted but noticeable. Hilt exhibits a pleasing dark patina with scattered blemishes from age and handling. Grip exhibits creases in the leather and several scuffs with mostly tight copper wire. This is an excellent revolver and sword grouping identified to a Confederate cavalryman who participated in some of the most intense raids during the later years of the Civil War.
Accessories
Sword, Show Award
Caliber/Bore
.44 Percussion
Paperwork
Information Page