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LOT 1204
Exceptional Early Production Civil War Rogers & Spencer Army Model Revolver with Three Digit Serial Number - Serial no. 650, 44 percussion cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. This is an outstanding example of a percussion single action revolver that was manufactured by the Rogers & Spencer Co. of Willow Dale, New York, as part of an 1864 Ordnance Department contract for 5,000 revolvers. Most of the Rogers & Spencer revolvers were delivered after the conclusion of hostilities in April 1865 and were never issued. The revolver has an octagon barrel with brass cone front sight, solid frame with sighting groove in the top strap and two-piece walnut grips. The barrel, frame and cylinder have a high polish blue finish, and the loading lever, hammer and trigger are casehardened. The walnut grips are oil finished and have nickel silver screw escutcheons. “ROGERS & SPENCER/UTICA N-Y” is stamped on either side of the tops trap sighting groove. The serial number is stamped on the underside of the barrel, the left side of the frame, side of the cylinder and bottom of the grip strap. The Ordnance final inspection stamp which consists of the script initials “RPB” with a rectangular border is stamped on the lower
CONDITION: Excellent. The revolver
appears to be un-fired and shows only
storage wear. The barrel and frame retain 98% plus of the original high polish
blue finish. The cylinder has several small patches of flaking and light turn marks
but retains 85% of the blue finish. The percussion nipples and rear face of the
cylinder show no flash pitting. The loading lever, hammer and trigger retain 98% plus of the muted case
colors. The grips are also excellent plus with crisp Ordnance final inspection and sub-inspection marks and all of the original oil finish. The markings on the barrel, frame and cylinder are crisp. Mechanically excellent. This is an outstanding example of a Civil War Rogers & Spencer Army Model revolver in as issued condition.
Estimate: 8,500 - 12,000
LOT 1205
Scarce Civil War Era Butterfield Army Model Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 77, 41 cal., 7 inch
octagon bbl., blue/bright finish, walnut grips. The Butterfield Revolvers were manufactured by Jesse Butterfield of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1862. They are considered by collectors to be secondary U.S. martial handgun since they were manufactured in
anticipation of an unrealized government contract. Because no contract was awarded, production was limited to only about 640 revolvers. It is equipped with a special disc priming device loaded by loosening a thumb-screw in front of the trigger guard. The top strap is marked “BUTTERFIELD’S/PATENT DEC 11. 1855/PHILADA”. Various components are marked with the matching serial number “77”, including the underside of both grip panels.
CONDITION: Very good, with smooth brown patina and some patches of light pitting on the blue finished barrel,
loading lever and cylinder, and strong traces of original silver finish in protected areas, strongest on the grip frame and underside of the frame plates, with the brass exhibiting an attractive golden aged patina on the exposed surfaces. Grips are also very good as repaired/refinished, with scattered light scratches, a few minor dings, a re-glued cracked section at the top of the left panel, and some filled in repairs visible at the bottom front of the right panel. Mechanically fine.
left heel of the grip. Small “B” Ordnance sub-inspection marks are stamped on the barrel, frame, cylinder and grip.
212 Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500