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The article shows detailed pictures of a number of the known surviving T.W. Cofer
revolvers, with some having serial numbers, some having a serial letter like this
example, and others being unserialized. This T.W. Cofer revolver, serial letter “T”,
is not specifically mentioned or pictured in John Sexton’s article. However, it is
mentioned on page 148 of “Confederate Handguns” (1963) by Albaugh, Benet and
Simmons, which states, “Whatever they were intended to be, today’s Cofers are
marked as follows: 1, 13 (3 on screws), M, L, T (8 scratched inside grips), No. 7, V.”
Sexton’s article shows pictures of an unserialized prototype Cofer revolver, “NO 7”
prototype cartridge revolver, and percussion revolvers including serial numbers 1,
11, 13, F, L, M, N, and two other unserialized examples.
Company I of the Confederate 5th Virginia Cavalry Regiment, also known as the
“Chesapeake Light Cavalry,” was headed by Captain Edgar A. Burroughs (March
7, 1823-January 27, 1864) and originally entered service at Lynhaven Beach,
Virginia on June 30, 1861, a few months after the beginning of the Civil War. It
served in the Department of Norfolk until May of 1862, when it was included as
one of three companies of the 5th Virginia Cavalry that were assigned to the 14th
Battalion Virginia Cavalry, then the 14th and 15th Battalion Virginia Cavalry were
consolidated in September of 1862, where they referred to simply as the 15th
Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, serving under Confederate General J.E.B.
Stuart. Based on the known deliveries of 82 Cofer revolvers by May of 1862, this
Cofer revolver may have seen use with the Chesapeake Light Cavalry in many of
the most significant battles of the Civil War, including the Seven Days’ Battles, the
Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the
Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of Brandy Station, the Battle of Gettysburg,
the Bristoe Campaign, the Overland Campaign, the Siege of Petersburg, the Valley
Campaigns of 1864, and the Appomattox Campaign.
This revolver is marked “T. W. COFER’s./PATENT” in two lines on the frame top strap,
with a partly legible “PORTSMOUTH VA” on top of the barrel, and has serial letter
“T” marking visible on the underside of the barrel, on the cylinder arbor pin, and
on the head of the grip screw, with no other visible markings located. Features a
.36 caliber iron octagon barrel with a brass post front sight, an integrated raised
notch on the brass frame top strap, a loading lever beneath the barrel, a 6-shot
percussion cylinder, and walnut grip panels. “8” is hand carved on the interior
of each grip panel. Faint remnants of period carved initials that appear to read
“SA” are visible on the brass butt, likely the initials of the soldier who carried this
revolver in the Civil War. More relevant information on these T.W. Cofer revolvers
can also be found on pages 19-22 of “Confederate Arms” (1957) by Albaugh and
Simmons, pages 137-155 of “Confederate Handguns” (1963) by Albaugh, Benet
and Simmons, the article “A Confederate Cofer Revolver from Wisconsin” by Kellert
on pages 50-53 of The Gun Report May 1978, pages 274-275 of “Confederate
Longarms and Pistols” (1978) by Hill and Anthony, pages 142-151 of “Confederate
Revolvers” (1987) by Gary, and pages 94-96 of “Arming the Glorious Cause,
Weapons for the Second War for Independence” (1998) by Whisker, Hartzler and
Yantz. Includes a small foam display plaque. The consignor indicated this revolver
was brought in to The Horse Soldier shop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in the 1990s
by an unknown owner that was possibly a descendant of the unknown original
soldier who carried this revolver, and The Horse Soldier referred the then-owner to
Fred Edmonds who purchased it from them and subsequently sold it to Ray Richey
where it has since been on display as part of the immense collection in his Texas
Civil War Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, until the museum closed its doors at the
end of 2023.
CONDITION: Very good and well above other Confederate issued revolvers with an
attractive appearance, showing some scattered dark pitting on the iron barrel and
cylinder, attractive untouched golden aged patina on the fine brass frame with
some dings from period use, and mostly legible markings. Grips are fine with some
scratches, a few small chips at the bottom corners and around the grip screw, a
few dings on the butts, and defined edges. A few absent sections visible on the
percussion nipples, otherwise mechanically functions fine. This Confederate T.W.
Cofer revolver is as rare as they come, and opportunities to acquire one of these
coveted revolvers are even rarer!
Provenance: The Fred Edmonds Collection; The Texas Civil War Museum
Collection of Ray Richey; Private Collection.
Estimate: 250,000 - 425,000