Page 133 - 4091-BOOK3

LOT 3208
Cased Historic Civil War 7th Illinois Infantry Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver Inscribed “Lt. Wm Mathie” with Documented Special Order Grip and Factory Letter - Serial no. 108346, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, antique ivory grips. The included factory letter confirms the configuration (including the grip) and that this revolver was one of 48 of this type in a shipment to major dealer B. Kittredge & Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 23, 1861. The revolver has a dovetailed blade front sight, the one-line New York address, “2” on the left side of the barrel lug, “COLTS/PATENT” on the left side of the frame, standard naval battle scene on the cylinder, matching serial numbers, and the factory dash marking above or below the serial numbers along the bottom designating the revolver for a special order grip and/or special finishing. The back strap is inscribed “Lt Wm Mathie” in flowing script. The revolver comes in a fitted presentation case with a cap tin, spare mainspring, turned bone container with spare nipples, key, powder flask, L-shaped combination tool, blued ball/bullet mold, and a Rampant Colt pin. Information on Lieutenant William Mathie (b. 1836) of Bunker Hill, Illinois, accompanies the revolver. He enrolled as a 1st lieutenant in Company F of the 7th Illinois Infantry on July 25, 1861. Effective April 8, 1862, Mathie was promoted to captain. On the muster roll for August 18, 1862, as “Absent on furlough since August 14, 1862, by special authority from Sec. of War for Maj. Gen. U.S. Grant.” In “The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant,” Mathie appears in a letter from Colonel John Cook to Grant: “At 3:15 P.M. Lieut Mathie Comd’g. Co. F. 7th Ills, Officer of the Day, reported to these Head Quarters the approach of three
Rebel Gun Boats, names unknown, which were allowed to reach a distance of four and a half miles from Fort Holt, when deeming it imprudent to allow them to progress further the batteries were ordered to open upon them...”The 7th
participated in the battles of Ford Donnelson and Shiloh before Mathie resigned on Dec 10, 1862. He was mustered into the Company A of the 97th Illinois Infantry on Dec. 21, 1863. Mathie was transferred to D Company of the 37th
Illinois Infantry (Fremont Rifles or Illinois Greyhounds) on Jan. 20, 1864, and mustered out as a sergeant on May 15,
1866, with the regiment after guard duty around Houston.
CONDITION: Good with 25% original silver plating remaining and concentrate on the trigger guard, aged patina on the silver and
brass, traces of original case colors and otherwise a smooth gray patina overall, several small dings, some faint pitting, and general mild overall wear. The grip is fine and has very attractive aged patina and grain and minor age cracks. The inscription and most markings remain crisp. Mechanically fine. The relined/refinished case is very good with age and storage related wear. The flask is
fine, and the bullet mold is very good.
Provenance: Lt. William Mathie; David Condon Inc.; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
LOT 3209
Scarce Documented Civil War U.S. Navy Shipped Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver with Fluted Cylinder and Factory Letter - Serial no. 6546, 44 cal., 8 inch round
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. The included factory letter indicates this revolver was part of a shipment of 8 inch barreled Model 1860 Army revolvers sold to the U.S. Navy Department and shipped to the
commanding officer at the U.S. Navy Yard in Boston on June 8, 1861. Some of the revolver in these early U.S. military shipments included the distinctive fluted cylinders and “four-screw” frames. Some of the early fluted cylinders failed due to weakness at the rear of the chamber at the cylinder stops.
Colt improved the design by introducing the “cavalry cylinder” with a taper to the chamber at the rear thereby leaving more material at the stops preventing failures,
but Colt soon eliminated both of the fluted cylinder and the “fourth-screws” to streamline production and reduce costs. Navy shipments of the Model 1860 Army were much more limited than those for the U.S. Army. On page 202 of “The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver,” author Charles Pate writes, “While their number was not
great, some Colt NMA revolvers saw considerable service on the seas and inland waters of the U.S. during the Civil War.” The largest order for the Navy was for just 500 revolvers, and we rarely get the opportunity to offer the Navy 1860 Army revolvers. They were employed on the U.S. Navy ships participating in the blockade of the South
as part of the Anaconda Plan and also on the smaller vessels conducting river operations. Like the early U.S. Army examples, this one has no government inspection
markings. The 8 inch barrel has a German silver blade front sight and the one-line New York address. The frame is cut for a shoulder stock and has the slightly protruding “fourth screws” on the sides as well as the “COLTS/PATENT” marking on the left. The left side of the trigger guard has a “4” visible. The distinctive fluted cylinder has
“PATENTED SEPT. 10th 1850” marked in one flute. Matching serial numbers are found on the wedge, arbor pin, back of the cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap.
CONDITION: Very good with traces of original finish, dark brown patina and some light oxidation/pitting on the iron, attractively aged patina on the brass, general mild overall wear, and mostly distinct markings. The refinished grip is very good and has minor handling and storage wear. Mechanically fine. Overall, a very solid and attractive U.S. Navy Colt Model 1860 Army with the desirable fluted cylinder.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 3210 Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver with Deluxe Grip - Serial no. 50919, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, deluxe factory walnut grips. Manufactured in 1856. The barrel has a brass cone front sight and the New York City address. The left side of the barrel lug has a small “T”, the left side of the frame has “COLTS/PATENT/U.S.”, and “L” and “G” are marked on the left side of the trigger guard. The cylinder has the lassic Naval Battle of Campeche scene. Aside from the wedge (“1999”), matching serial numbers are found throughout the various metal components. The grip is very nicely figured walnut with a varnish finish. CONDITION: Very good plus with traces of original blue and casehardened finish, 40% original silver plating, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance of the iron along with some flash pitting, attractive aged patina on the brass and silver, and generally mild overall wear. The attractive grip is very fine and has attractive flame figure, light edge wear, hammering marks on the butt, and some dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
c
131