September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/5/2023
Early production J.H. Dance & Bros Dragoon revolver produced in their Columbia, Texas factory for Confederate use in Texas Cavalry units. Known units to have used these included the 35th (Brown's) Texas Cavalry and Sutton's Cavalry (Graham Rangers), who used these revolvers to defend the Texas frontier and the Gulf Coast. Features of this revolver include 8" half octagon to round barrel in .44 caliber with brass blade front sight and hammer notch rear sight. Brass backstrap and trigger guard with early thin trigger guard contour. 1 piece walnut grips. Frame screws are flat-headed, typical of .44 caliber Dragoon revolvers. Matching large font single-stamped serial numbers observed on the barrel, rammer, cylinder arbor, cylinder, frame, twice on the trigger guard, and backstrap. Barrel has the correct 7-groove rifling rotating clockwise. This particular gun is pictured in Gary Wiggins's "Dance & Brothers: Texas Gunmakers of the Confederacy" pages 46-47 and is mentioned by serial number as an authentic standard flat-frame Dragoon on page 49 of an article by John Sexton in "Military Antique Collector Magazine Vol. 1 No.3". Dragoon serial number 48 is interesting because there is also a Dance Navy with the same serial number for sale in this auction. The repeating serial numbers for a pair of Dance Dragoon and Navy are possibly only seen in these 2 guns. Offered here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own both revolvers. CONDITION: Very good for its age, with virtually all of the iron surfaces turned a freckled brown-gray patina with rammer assembly turned a blue-gray patina. The rear of the cylinder has all 6 safety pins present, though worn. Cones appear to be the originals, with appropriate amounts of wear for their age and use. The trigger guard and backstrap are a pleasing mellow patina. Trigger guard has a small brazed repair where the trigger guard was professionally put back together. Mechanically fine, indexing correctly on half cock and locking tightly on full cock. Bore has well-defined rifling with abrasion near the muzzle from use with corrosive black powder. In the words of William A. Gary in his book "Confederate Revolvers": "Nothing quickens the heartbeat of a Texas gun collector more than the anticipation of acquiring a Confederate Dance Revolver." this revolver is no exception. Sure to be a highlight of a Confederate or Texas gun collection. From Louie Parker Collection.
Caliber/Bore
.44 Percussion