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LOT 293
E. Remington & Sons New Model Percussion Revolving
Rifle - Serial no. 306, 36 cal., 24 3/8 inch octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened/silver finish, walnut stock. Less than 1,000 of
these revolving rifles were estimated to have been manufactured c.
1866-1879 per Flayderman’s Guide. There were different variations throughout the production run. Remington advertised these as their “Revolving Breech Rifle” and in later years offered them with
both percussion and metallic cartridge cylinders. The matching serial number is on the bottom of the barrel, right side of the upper tang,
lower tang by the screw, and inside of the upper tang mortise. There is a “W” on the back of the cylinder and a “3” on the left side of the frame at the
rear. The barrel has a dovetailed nickel silver beaded blade front sight and a folding notch and sliding aperture rear sight as well as the three-line patent, address, and New Model marking. The spurred trigger guard, buttplate, and toe plate are silver plated brass. The figured walnut stock has a finely checkered wrist.
CONDITION: Very good with 40% period reblued finish on the barrel, some crude period repair work done on the lever and lever latch, 20% original case colors, traces of original silver on the trigger guard, 95% plus of the age darkened original silver on the buttplate and toe plate, and mostly dark brown patina on the cylinder and frame. The stock is fine and has mostly crisp checkering, smooth finish, attractive figure, and mild scrapes and dings. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 294
Scarce Martially Inspected
Civil War U.S. Contract Pettengill
Army Model Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 4480, 44
cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Approximately
3,400 total Pettengill Army revolvers were manufactured by Rodgers & Spencer
& Co., of Willow Dale, New York, with this example included as one of 2,000
purchased by the U.S. Ordnance Department between October 1862-January 1863. The Pettengill
double action revolver is known for fouling internal parts after several
discharges, which made it nearly impossible to fire. Pettengill Army revolvers
were issued in quantity to the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry and in small
numbers to several other Midwestern cavalry regiments. The top strap is
marked “PETTENGILLS/PATENT 1856/PATD JULY 22 1856/& JULY 27 1858”. The
matching serial number “4480” is stamped on the inside of the trigger guard,
underside of the right grip panel, and on the butt. “4507” is stamped on the
side of the replacement cylinder. “D” sub-inspection mark on the bottom of
the frame, “W” sub-inspection mark on the bottom flats of both grip panels,
and “WW” on the left of the barrel, frame and cylinder. Boxed script “BH” inspection cartouche
stamped on the left grip panel.
CONDITION: Good, with untouched smooth dark gray and brown patina overall, scattered light pitting and mostly visible markings in the metal. The grips are very good, with some scattered light handling marks and nicks, and lightly visible cartouche. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 295
Civil War Era French “Raphael”
Model 1860 Pidault-Cordier Double Action Revolver - Serial no.
146, 11 mm cal., 5 7/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured c. 1860s. It has bead and notch sights, no visible markings
aside from “146” on the left at the breech and “25” on the back of the cylinder,
a rotating recoil shield with built in loading gate and safety slot, smooth
grips, and a lanyard ring and ejection tool threaded into the butt. A small
number of these revolvers designed by Martial Pidault and Charles Cordier of
Paris and patented on May 28, 1860, were purchased for the Union Army from international
shipping and commission merchants George Raphael & Co. for $26.33 each, approximately twice
the price of a Remington percussion. The company also sold the U.S. Lefaucheux revolvers and
swords and dealt in a variety of goods including grain and other agricultural products. George
Raphael (1820-1913) came to the U.S. in the 1845 from Ireland and became a leading international merchant. When he died in New Jersey, he was identified as the last charter member of the Commercial Exchange of Philadelphia formed in 1854 and was the only honorary member at the time of his death. He is often said to have been a friend of President Lincoln. Some of these revolvers are believed to have also been purchased privately by officers. Some have supposed that he was the “Frenchman” that designed the Rafael Repeater presented to the U.S. Military for trials by James R. Haskell, but this seems unlikely unless he was only acting as a
merchant for the weapon.
CONDITION: Very fine with 80% plus of the original blue finish, subtle original case colors, and mild overall wear. The grips are fine and have numerous scratches and dings. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 296
Scarce C.S. Pettengill Navy Model
Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 564, 36 cal., 4 5/8 inch
octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Only an estimated
900 of these Navy Model revolvers were manufactured by Rogers, Spencer,
& Co. in Willow Dale, New York, in the late 1850s. This design was an upscaled
version of the earlier Pettengill Pocket Model and was itself altered into the Army
Model issued to several Union cavalry units during the Civil War. The latter were the only U.S. martial
revolvers to use a shrouded hammer. Some of the Pocket and Navy revolvers were likely carried as
privately purchased sidearms during the war as well and they would have been among the few double action revolvers available at the time. This example has the matching serial number “564” on the various components,
a post front sight, solid type loading lever, notch rear sight, “PETTENGILLS/PATENT 1856” on the top strap, “RAYMOND AND ROBITAILLE/PATENTED 1858” on the bottom of the frame, and smooth grips.
CONDITION: Fine, the barrel retains 50% plus original bright blue finish, the cylinder retains 80% plus original bright blue finish with some brown surface corrosion on the balance, and the remaining components display smooth gray and brown patina, with sharp markings and edges overall. The grips are also fine, with scattered light scratches and a chip on the bottom right edge. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 297
Fine Civil War U.S. Contract E. Remington
& Sons New Model Army Percussion
Revolver - Serial no. 45223, 44 cal., 8 inch
octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Remington’s revolvers were the second most widely issued by the
Union throughout the Civil War. The New Model Army was manufactured from 1863-1875
and represents the last of Remington’s .44 caliber percussion revolvers. “PATENTED SEPT.
14. 1858/E. REMINGTON & SONS. ILION NEWYORK.U.S.A./NEW-MODEL” marked in three lines on the top barrel
flat. Matching serial numbers located on the barrel, trigger guard finial (hidden, requires disassembly), left of
the grip frame, and handwritten on the underside of both grip panels. The cylinder is unnumbered. Single letter sub-inspection marks located on various components. Boxed script “BH” (Benjamin Hannis) inspection cartouche stamped on the left grip panel. Threaded “pinched” blade front sight and top strap groove rear sight.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% plus original blue finish, mostly on the barrel, with some flaking and smooth brown and gray patina on the balance, some light scratches, and sharp markings and edges in the metal. The grips are very fine, with some light edge wear, a few light handling marks, and an exceptionally crisp cartouche and sub- inspection stamps. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
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