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LOT 239
Fine Civil War U.S. Martially Inspected Starr Model 1858 Army
LOT 237
Very Scarce Civil War Era Butterfield Army Model Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 236, 41 cal., 7 inch octagon bbl., blue/silver finish, walnut grips. The Butterfield Revolvers were manufactured by Jesse Butterfield of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1862. They are considered by collectors to be secondary U.S. martial handgun since they were manufactured in anticipation of an unrealized government contract. Because no contract was awarded, production was limited to only about 640 revolvers. It is equipped with a special disc priming device loaded by loosening a thumb- screw in front of the trigger guard. The top strap is marked “BUTTERFIELD’S/PATENT DEC 11. 1855/PHILADA”. The matching serial number “236” is visible on various components. CONDITION: Very good with the brass showing an attractive golden aged patina, traces of original silver finish visible in some of the protected areas, professionally made replacement cylinder pin, loading lever assembly and catch, and scattered light to mild pitting and freckling on the iron surfaces with brown patina. The refinished grips are also very good, with scattered light scratches and handling marks, re-stamped numbers on the butt, and some reattached spliced sections on both grip panels. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Phillip Otto Clark Collection. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 238
Civil War Savage Revolving Firearms
Co. Navy Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 683, 36 cal.,
7 1/8 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured by the
Savage Revolving Fire Arms Co. of Middletown, Connecticut c. 1861 to the
mid-1860s. Of the 20,000 Savage Navy revolvers manufactured between
1861-1865, the Ordnance Department purchased 11,984 of these distinctive
revolvers. Features a heart shaped trigger guard with round cocking lever, off-set
hammer, six-shot gas-sealing cylinder, octagon barrel, and hinged loading lever. The top strap
is roll-stamped “SAVAGE R.F.A.Co.MIDDLETOWN. CT/H.S.NORTH PATENTED JUNE 17 1856/JANUARY 18 1859. MAY 15 1860” in three lines. This example shows no ordnance inspector’s markings and was likely sold on the commercial market during the war, making it comparatively rarer than the U.S. inspected examples. The back of the left grip is marked “ROBERT E. EBY.” Both grips also have the matching serial number.
CONDITION: Very good plus with 50% original blue finish on the barrel and loading lever housing, mostly dark gray patina on the balance, some minor pitting, and general mild overall wear. The grips are also very good with repaired cracks, small chips, and mild scratches. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Robert E. Eby Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
240 Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
Double Action Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 13407, 44 cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. The Starr Model 1858 and Model 1863 revolvers as a group were the third most widely used revolvers by the Union forces during the Civil War. Approximately 23,000 Model 1858 Army revolvers were manufactured in the late 1850s to early 1860s, with 21,000 reportedly sold to the U.S. government. The frame has the New York address on the left side and the 1856 patent date on the right. Most of the components have single letter inspection marks. All matching visible serial numbers “13407” marked on the front surface of the frame below the loading lever, underside of the barrel, inside of the hammer well (partially visible), hammer, cylinder, left side of the front grip strap, underside of the rear grip strap, and stamped on the top surface of the one-piece walnut grip. Crisp boxed script “ABB” (A.B. Blackington) and “CSL” (Charles S. Lowell) inspection cartouches stamped on both sides of the grip at the bottom. CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% original blue finish with scattered patches of flaking and smooth brown and gray patina on the balance, 70% vivid original case colors on the loading lever and hammer with the trigger turned to a smooth gray, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Grip is also fine with defined edges, some scattered light handling marks and nicks, and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 240
Fine Civil War
U.S. Contract E.
Remington & Sons New Model
Army Percussion Revolver with Holster - Serial
no. 97117, 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. Full
and partial serial number “97117” is located on the bottom of the barrel, left of the grip
frame, trigger guard lug (hidden, requires disassembly), and faintly handwritten on the
underside of both grip panels. The cylinder is unnumbered. Single letter sub-
inspection marks located on various components. Boxed script “OWA” (Orville
W. Ainsworth) inspection cartouche stamped on the left grip panel. Threaded
“pinched” blade front sight and top strap groove rear sight. Includes a Civil
War era black leather military pattern holster with a faintly visible illegible
maker marking stamped on the flap.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus original blue finish flaking to a smooth
brown patina on the balance, with scattered mild freckling and defined
markings and edges in the metal. Grips are also fine with some minor nicks
along the otherwise defined edges, light handling marks, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Holster is very good with general mild wear, aging and cracking.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250