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The history of the inscription is not documented. A prior owner reported
that it was owned
by a cattleman
from the Kansas
City area but had
no documentation.
After acquiring the revolver, Greg Lampe and a private
researcher he hired could not tie the revolver to anyone
living in the West in the period. In our own research, the only
candidate fitting the inscription appeared to be Fred Loring
Seely Jr. (1916-1991), a veteran of World War II who inherited the
Biltmore Industries complex in Asheville, North Carolina, which
had been previously run by his father, Fred Loring Seely (1871-
1942). Seely, Jr. sold the property in the 1950s to Harry Blomberg.
The family home on Sunset Mountain had been donated in 1948
for use as the first campus of the University of North Carolina. Seely,
Jr. retired from the U.S. Navy as a rear admiral was also noted as the former
vice-mayor of Asheville and as owning hotels in the town as well as in Daytona
Beach, Florida, and the president of the realty firm Seely Associates. The family moved to Tryon in 1975.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with 90% plus untouched original nickel plating, some minor flaking, crisp engraving and etched panel, bright original niter blue on the small parts, and minor overall wear. The grips are very fine and have attractive natural tones and grain, minor age stress lines, and a distinct enameled inscription. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
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