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LOT 261
Historic Cased Pair of Williams & Powell Retailer Marked London Armoury Company Beaumont-Adams Double Action Percussion Revolvers Identified as Owned by Governor Rufus Bullock of Georgia -A) L.A.C. Beaumont-Adams Revolver - Serial no. 21272, 44 cal., 5 3/4 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This high condition cased pair was manufactured by the London Armoury Company c. 1856-1859 before Robert Adams left the company as they switched their focus to Pattern 1853 Rifle-Muskets and later Kerr revolvers for the Confederate States of America. The nearly sequential revolvers are numbered “21272” and “21274” on the right side of the frames and also have “ADAMS’ PATENT 37,073” and “ADAMS’ PATENT 37,075” below on the frames and “37,073” and “37,075” on the respective cylinders. They have the small “L.A.C.” maker’s marks on the upper left barrel flats ahead of the London proofs and the retailer mark “WILLIAMS & POWELL. 25. SOUTH CASTLE ST LIVERPOOL.” across the top straps and barrels. They are equipped with dovetailed blade front sights, fixed notch rear sights, loading levers on the left, spurred hammers, safety switches on the right, and checkered walnut grips with blued steel pommel caps. The frames have double line borders. The pair comes n a fitted hardwood case with a Williams & Powell trade label inside the lid, green baize lining, Robert Adams 54 bore dual bullet mold, Eley Bros. cap tin, James Dixon & Sons and Sykes marked oilers, bullets, James Dixon & Sons flask, rod, screwdriver, and nipple wrench.
An included note from W. James Stuber to Peter J. Ryan in 1973 reads: “According to the purveyor of these percussion pieces, they once belonged to Rufus Bullock, Governor of Georgia from 1868 to 1870. Public Servant Bullock was born in Bethlehem, Albany County, New York in 1834 and died in Atlanta, Georgia in 1907. His career with Adams Express moved him to Augusta, Georgia where he joined the Southern Express Company; he held a commission as Lt. Colonel and was once acting assistant Quartermaster General.”
Rufus Brown Bullock (1834-1907) is a rather interesting historical figure. He was born in New York and had only recently relocated to Georgia shortly before the outbreak of the American Civil War. Though opposed to secession, he served as a lieutenant colonel in the Confederacy and was key in maintaining the telegraph lines, railroads, and freight operations of the rebel states during the war. After the war, he became a key figure in Georgia’s 1867 Constitutional Convention and then won the election for governor in April 1868 as a Republican, defeating Democrat John B. Gordon, soon to be the leader of the infamous Ku Klux Klan. Bullock’s defense of equal rights and opportunities for black and white Georgians plus his northern birth put him in severe danger, and he sought assistance from President Ulysses S. Grant to enforce the law. This ultimately led to Bullock resigning and fleeing the state. He is portrayed as a corrupt carpetbagger by his opponents and in “Gone with the Wind.” However, he returned to Georgia in 1876, was declared not guilty on various charges and became a prominent businessman in Atlanta and was one of the main organizers of the Cotton States and International Exposition held in Atlanta in 1895. He returned to New York towards the end of his life but was well-remembered in the Georgian newspapers upon his death and especially noted for his role in making Atlanta into a thriving city. CONDITION: Very fine with 75% plus original finish, some flaking mainly on the cylinder, smooth gray and brown patina on the flaked areas, light handling and storage marks, and crisp markings. The grip is excellent and has crisp checkering and light marks. Mechanically fine. The case and accessories are generally fine with mild age and storage related wear, a detached flask spring, some dents, and some tears and separation on the lining. B) L.A.C. Beaumont-Adams Revolver - Serial no. 21274, 44 cal., 5 3/4 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with 85% plus bright original high polish finish, mostly smooth gray patina where the finish has flaked areas, distinct markings, and general minor wear from age and storage. The grip is excellent and has crisp checkering. Mechanically fine. Overall, this is a an exceptional presentation cased pair of Beaumont-Adams revolvers attributed to a leading figure in Georgia during the Civil War and Reconstruction. Provenance: Governor Rufus Bullock of Georgia; The W. James Stuber Collection; The Peter J. Ryan Collection; Property of a Distinguished Southern Clergyman. Estimate: 7,500 - 15,000
LOT 262
Cased Engraved Deane, Adams, & Deane Adams Self-Cocking Percussion Pocket Revolver - Serial no. 5230, 32
percussion cal., 4 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This is a smaller civilian version of the Model 1851/1854 Adams self-cocking revolver manufactured prior to Robert Adams starting the London Armoury Co. in 1856. It features blade and notch sights, London Gunmakers’ Co. private proof and view marks, “DEANE ADAMS & DEANE, (MAKERS
TO H.R.H. PRINCE ALBERT.) 30 KING WILLIAM STT. LONDON BRIDGE.” on top of the top strap and barrel, fine acanthus scrollwork, “No. 5230./R” on the cylinder, “ADAMS’S PATENT No. 5230 (R)” on the lower right side of the frame, and a finely checkered and slender grip with hard rubber shell cap. It comes in a hardwood case with English fitted interior, Deane, Adams, & Deane trade label, green baize lining, bag shaped powder flask marked “G.&J. W.H.” (G. & J. W. Hawksley), several lead balls, wooden cleaning rod, screwdriver, nipple wrench, oiler, and a “REGISTERED/28 Nov/1851/R. ADAMS.” two cavity bullet mold. The Adams revolvers were the first commercially successful double action revolvers. The improved Beaumont- Adams design was so popular that it forced Colt to close his London factory and was even manufactured and sold in the U.S. through Mass. Arms Co.
CONDITION: Very fine with 90% plus of the original bright blue finish remains on the frame and barrel. The cylinder and trigger guard retain 75% plus. The balance has mostly smooth brown patina and some light oxidation. The small parts have attractive fire blued colors. The markings are crisp. The grip is very fine and has crisp checkering and only minor handling and storage type marks. The hammer needs adjusting; otherwise, mechanically fine. The case is good and has wood in place of the key hole plate, some cracking at the corners, and general storage wear. The accessories are fine. Provenance: The Andrew Singer Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500