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LOT 3344
Historic Civil War Colt Model 1851
Navy Percussion Revolver with 38th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Inscription, Attractive Special Order Checkered Grip and Holster - Serial no. 93363, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, antique ivory grips.
This fine Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver was manufactured in 1860 and has an arrowhead style “dash” suffix stamped above and below the main serial numbers used to indicate a special
order grip like the one found on this revolver. The one-piece factory checkered grip also has the matching
partial serial number properly handwritten in black ink in the back strap mortise. “C.L. Chase/Q.M.38th Regt. O.V.U.S.A.” is inscribed on the butt. It may
have been special ordered this way by or for the individual whose name is inscribed on the butt. The likely individual on the inscription is Converse
L. Chase of the 38th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, located in the Civil War soldiers database at the time of writing. An official roster lists Converse
L. Chase as the “R.Q.M.” (Regimental Quartermaster) and states “Appointed Sept. 10, 1861; resigned March 12, 1862.” The 38th Regiment, Ohio Infantry mustered in September 1st, 1861 at Defiance, Ohio, and were mustered out July 12th, 1865 after involvement in numerous battles throughout the Civil War.
This revolver has a silver plated brass grip frame, a dovetail mounted blade front sight, hammer nose rear sight, three-screw frame and percussion cut-out without a capping groove. The top barrel flat is marked “-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CT.-”, with “COLTS/PATENT/U.S.” marked on the left side of the frame. The cylinder is roll
engraved with the Naval Battle of Campeche scene. All matching visible serial numbers marked on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, cylinder, cylinder pin, loading lever, wedge and handwritten in black ink inside the grip mortise. Small one letter inspection marks on various parts. Includes a period unmarked brown leather holster.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus original blue finish concentrated on the barrel with scattered mild freckling, mostly smooth gray patina on the cylinder and frame, some scattered light flash pitting, 75% original silver finish, with a defined cylinder scene, inscription and markings in the metal overall. The special order grip is very fine with some light handling marks and age related wear, and defined checkering. Mechanically fine. The holster is fine with light age related wear. This attractive 38th Ohio Volunteers inscribed Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver with special order grip and holster would make a fine addition to any Civil War arms collection!
Provenance: The Floyd Everhart Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
LOT 3345
Civil War
Presentation Factory
Engraved Colt Model 1849 Pocket Percussion
Revolver Inscribed to S.D. Burchard by the “Master of Vessels” - Serial no. 187184, 31 cal., 6 inch octagon bbl., silver finish, antique ivory grips. This revolver
was manufactured in 1861 and features beautiful factory entwining scroll engraving with beaded backgrounds and “COLT’S/PATENT” hand inscribed on the left side of the frame, the factory dash marking above or below the lower serial
numbers designating the gun for special finishing, a dovetailed blade front sight, the one-line New York barrel address, six-shot cylinder, smooth grip, and
the inscription “Presented to S.D. Burchard, by the/Master of vessels, As a token of esteem” cut through the silver plating on the back strap in the location the factory engravers intentionally left blank for later inscriptions. A master of vessels is a
mariner licensed to command merchant vessels of any tonnage. There were two prominent men named Samuel Dickson Burchard from New York in 1861, the elder (1812-1891) a Presbyterian minister in New
York City who was a prominent Democrat and his son (1851-1882) and a businessman named Samuel D. Burchard (1836-1901) in Missouri and Wisconsin prior to the Civil War and a Union lieutenant in the Missouri militia who later became a state senator in Wisconsin. Given the revolver’s date of manufacture, the latter S.D. Burchard seems the more likely candidate. He became a captain and assistant quartermaster on January 24, 1865. The consignor
suggested the revolver was presented by Ulysses S. Grant, but the inscription implies it was presented by a mariner, perhaps a captain of a merchant vessel Burchard conducted business with as an assistant quartermaster or one that captained a vessel he traveled on. CONDITION: Very good with crisp engraving and inscription, 95% plus of the age darkened original silver plating on the grip straps, traces of silver elsewhere, mostly smooth brown patina on the balance, crisp markings and cylinder scene, and some scrapes and dings at the edges and back of the cylinder. The attractive grip is fine and has mild wear, including a few chips and thin age cracks. The cylinder doesn’t lock up or rotate when the hammer is cocked and spins freely with the hammer cocked.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
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