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an attractive golden aged patina. Sharp edges and markings on all of the metal surfaces. The grips are also very good with general light edge wear, crazing and some scattered light dings and scratches. One of the percussion nipples is broken/partly absent. Mechanically functions, but the cylinder is slightly out of time. A desirable well above average example of a Civil War Confederate Spiller & Burr revolver!
Provenance: The John J. Malloy Collection; The Gordon Curtiss Collection; The Doug Eberhart Collection; The David Gomer Collection; The Shannon Pritchard Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
225
LOT 256
Very Scarce and Desirable Civil War Confederate Spiller & Burr
Percussion Revolver with Provenance - Serial no. 587, 36 cal., 7 inch octagon bbl., blue/bright
finish, walnut grips. According to some sources, approximately 700 Spiller & Burr percussion revolvers
were manufactured in Atlanta, Georgia, circa 1862-1864, and another roughly 700 were manufactured
at the Macon Armory after the firm was purchased by the Confederacy in January of 1864. Bill Gary’s book,
“Confederate Revolvers,” differs in that it states that the Atlanta partnership manufactured 840 revolvers before the Confederate
government takeover, and further states that Macon Armory manufactured only approximately 400 revolvers before closing
upon the approach of General Sherman’s forces. Production started with a very optimistic government contract of about 15,000
revolvers in 1862 but was stopped in November 1864 due to Sherman’s March to the Sea. The revolver is patterned after the
Whitney Navy Model and has a distinctive solid brass frame with “C.S.” stamped on the left side. This Second Type features a large
cone front sight, frame groove rear sight, six-shot cylinder with six cylinder stops, and smooth walnut grips. All matching visible serial
numbers marked on the barrel, cylinder, frame under the trigger guard, underside of the trigger guard, butt, and faintly handwritten on the underside of both grip panels. Replacement loading lever and cylinder pin. Includes a letter of examination on this revolver by John Sexton that states, “The overall condition is above average for a brass framed Confederate firearm. In my opinion, this gun was government issued due to the ‘CS’ stamped on the left side of the brass frame as well as the use of a steel cylinder.” Information on these revolvers can be found in Albaugh, Benet and Simmons’ book “Confederate Handguns” on pages 61-77. Also includes a sales receipt dated March 27th, 1972, from John J. Malloy listing this revolver as sold to Gordon Curtiss, a typed letter dated December 20th, 2002, addressed from Doug Eberhart to David Gomer who
he sold the revolver to indicating Eberhart acquired this revolver from Gordon Curtiss in late 2001, and another handwritten letter dated October 6th, 2006, signed by the current consignor indicating they purchased this revolver from Shannon Pritchard of Old South Antiques in Virginia who acquired this revolver from David Gomer. CONDITION: Very good plus, exhibiting smooth brown and gray patina on the barrel, cylinder, trigger and hammer with some scattered freckling and patches of light pitting. The replacement loading lever/cylinder pin assembly shows an old applied blue finish above scattered artificially aged pitting. The brass frame is fine and retains