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LOT 1201
Historic Civil War Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver with Holster
Descendant Identified as Owned by Captain John H. Fisher, Aide-de-Camp of
General Alexander McCook at Chickamauga with Notarized Affidavit - Serial no. 135576, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch
octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This revolver was manufactured in 1863 and has the standard commercial production markings and features, including all matching visible serial numbers. The included black leather
flap holster has an old note attached reading: “This revolver was used in the Civil War by my uncle John H. Fisher Capt. Volunteer Aide on the staff of Gen. Alexander McD. McCook. He use it at The Battle of Chickamauga and The Siege of Chattanooga. [signed] H.C. Fisher”, and the other side has similar notations. Horace C. Fisher’s books “Genealogy of the Fisher Family and Its Connections” and “A Staff Officer’s Story: Colonel Horace Newton Fisher in the Civil War” are included as is a Feb. 2, 2024 notarized letter stating that this revolver was owned by Captain John H. Fisher, passed down to Horace Cecil Fisher and then on to his nephew Francis R. Austin and then to Austin’s son Richard W. Austin.
John H. Fisher (1838-1896) and his older brother Horace N. Fisher (1836-1916) where sons of the wealthy commission merchant Francis Fisher (1794-1871) of Fisher & Co. in Boston.
John and Horace Fisher were traveling in Europe as part of a larger tour of Europe and the Holy Land when news reached them of the attack on Fort Sumter. Horace had already completed
his studies at Harvard and joined the Army of the Ohio on 14 Feb. 1862 as a first lieutenant but shortly thereafter promoted to captain. He initially served on the staff of General William
Nelson but was a topographical engineer and volunteer aide-de-camp to General Alexander McDowell McCook. He was a lieutenant colonel and inspector general in the XX Corps in the Department
of the Cumberland but was forced to resign on Nov. 10, 1863, due to disability stemming from wounds received at Chickamauga and later served as Chilean consul in Boston. While he was actively engaged in the war, John was studying at Harvard and graduated near the top of his class in 1863 and then joined the Union cause alongside his brother as a volunteer aide-de-camp to General McCook which fits right within the history of this revolver being produced in 1863. He is noted as distinguishing “himself at the battle of Chickamauga.” Major General McCook’s forces were reorganized multiple times do to heavy casualties at the Battle of Perryville and Battle of Stones River. At Chickamauga, McCook’s XX Corps again suffered heavy casualties and were driven from the field. McCook and Major General T.L. Crittenden were blamed for the Union loss, and McCook was court martialed and found not guilty but was ultimately relieved of command and sent back to the defenses of Washington, D.C. John Fisher also resigned shortly after Chickamauga and then went into business in Boston. He never married or had children, so it makes sense that this revolver was passed to his nephew, Horace’s son Horace Cecil Fisher (1872-1975).
CONDITION: Very fine with 80% plus original blue finish on the barrel, traces of original blue on the cylinder, 85% plus original vivid case colors, 85% plus original silver plating on the trigger guard and back strap with attractively aged patina, and general mild overall wear. The grip is also very fine with 90% plus original varnish, edge wear, and light scratches and dings. Mechanically does not function (no mainspring pressure). The holster is fine with moderate flaking and rub wear, detached strap, some absent and replaced stitching, and general moderate
wear. Overall, a very attractive revolver identified to a Union officer who served at Chickamauga.
Provenance: Captain John H. Fisher; Horace Cecil Fisher; Francis R. Austin; Richard W. Austin.
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
LOT 1202
Excellent Cased Colt Model 1855 “Root” Sidehammer Pocket Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 5036, 28 cal., 3 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Samuel Colt’s “New Model Pocket Pistol,” generally known to collectors as the Model 1855 Pocket or “Root” revolver after Elisha K. Root, is a very distinctive model and
was Colt’s only production percussion revolving handgun built with a solid frame. The same design on a larger scale was also used for Colt’s side hammer revolving rifles and shotguns. There are several variations throughout production, and this incredibly high condition, early Colt Model 1855 Pocket revolver is a “Model 2” variant manufactured in 1856 with a 3 1/2 inch octagon barrel with a cone front sight and the pointing hand motif followed by the two-line, two-block patent and address marking and a round cylinder with the cabin and Indian roll-scene. A sight groove and notch rear sight are incorporated into the top strap. Matching serial numbers
are visible on the barrel, cylinder, and butt. The revolver is finished with blue on the barrel, cylinder, and frame; casehardening on the loading lever and hammer, and has a “piano” varnish finish on the walnut grip. It comes with a partitioned case containing an Eley Brothers cap tin, a Great Seal of the U.S. themed pocket powder flask, and brass ball/bullet mold with “COLT’S/PATENT” marked on the sprue cutter and “B” on the right arm. CONDITION: Excellent with 90% plus bright original high polish blue remaining, some slight fading at the
edges, 85% plus original case colors on the loading lever, mostly smooth gray colors on the hammer, and crisp markings and cylinder scene. The grip is also excellent aside from some slight flakes at the rear edge and light edge wear and otherwise retains nearly all of the high gloss piano varnish finish. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are fine with minor age and storage related wear. Overall, a stunning cased Colt Model 1855 Pocket.
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500
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