Page 89 - 89-FLIPBOOK3

LOT 3096
Very Scarce Civil War
Hoard’s Armory Freeman Army
Model Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 926, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch
round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Approximately 2,000 manufactured
c. 1863-1865. The Ordnance Department originally ordered 5,000, but the contract
ultimately was not filled. However, some of these revolvers were purchased for use
during the Civil War on the state and private level. These revolvers have an interesting
method of securing and removing the cylinder: a small switch on the right side that when pressed forward allows the cylinder and pin to fall out to the right. Equipped with a modified blade front sight and frame groove rear sight with “FREEMAN’S PAT. DECR 9. 1862” on the right of the sight groove and “HOARD’S ARMORY, WATERTOWN, N.Y” on the left. Matching serial number on the bottom of the barrel, loading lever, frame, rear face of the cylinder,
and underside of the grips (right is faint).
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% of the original blue
finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth
grey or plum brown patina and a few scattered small
patches of very light pitting. The grips are also very
good with a small spliced repair at the front bottom
corner of the left panel, some minor dings and chips
in the bottom of the left panel, and otherwise light
handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3097
Scarce Civil War Era
Butterfield Army Model
Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 529, 41 cal., 7 inch octagon
bbl., blue/silver 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 “529” including on the bottom surface of both grip panels.
CONDITION: Good with the brass showing an attractive age darkened golden
patina, defined top strap markings, some traces of original silver finish in
protected areas, and extensive moderate pitting on the iron surfaces. The grips are
very good with scattered scratches and dents, reglued sections on the bottom front
edge of each panel, and light edge wear. The disc priming device is separated/broken in half; otherwise, the gun is mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3098
Scarce Prescott Single Action Navy Revolver - Serial no. 95, 38 RF cal.,
7 inch octagon bbl., blue/silver finish, walnut grips. Manufactured circa
1861 to 1863 with an estimated total production of only a few hundred. The top
barrel flat is marked “E.A. PRESCOTT, WORCESTER, MASS./PAT. OCT. 2 1860”. Matching
numbers on frame, grips, cylinder pin, and cylinder. The barrel and cylinder are
finished blue, the brass frame and trigger guard are silver plated, and the revolver is fitted
with smooth varnished two piece grips. Prescott revolvers were infringements on the Rollin White patent, and the production of this and other Prescott models were stopped through legal action by Smith & Wesson. Some of these revolver were carried by
Union officers and enlisted men as personal sidearms.
CONDITION: Very good. The cylinder and barrel have a
mottled brown patina with some pin point pitting. The frame
has an attractive aged patina. The grips are very fine with
most of the varnish remaining and some minor dings and
scratches. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3099
Scarce Civil War Era Joslyn Army Model Percussion
Revolver - Serial no. 1561, 44 cal., 8 inch octagon bbl., blue
finish, walnut grips. Only about 3,000 Army Model revolvers were
manufactured in 1861 and 1862 by the Joslyn Firearms Company in
Stonington, Connecticut. The Joslyn is one of the scarcest of all the revolvers used
by the Union Army and Navy. 1,100 Joslyns were purchased on the open market and primarily
issued to Ohio units including the 5th and 6th Ohio Cavalry. Dovetailed blade front sight, a
sighting groove in the top strap. “B.F. JOSLYN/PATD, MAY 4TH 1858.” on top of the barrel at the
breech. The full serial number is marked on the butt, bottom of the barrel, and stamped inside
each grip panel. The period replaced loading lever is numbered “1362”.
CONDITION: Very good, showing a smooth grey patina overall with some scattered small patches of light surface pitting. The grips are fine with some minor dings in the butts, some scattered minor handling marks, and mostly well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 3100
Scarce Civil War Era Joslyn Army Model
Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 2926, 44 cal., 8 inch octagon
bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Reportedly 3,000 Army Model revolvers
were manufactured in 1861 and 1862 by the Joslyn Firearms Company in
Stonington, Connecticut. The Joslyn is one of the scarcest of all the revolvers
used by the Union Army and Navy. 1,100 Joslyns were purchased on the open market and
primarily issued to Ohio units including the 5th and 6th Ohio Cavalry. Dovetailed blade front
sight, a sighting groove in the top strap. “B.F. JOSLYN/PATD, MAY 4TH 1858.” on top of the barrel
at the breech. The full serial number is marked on the butt, bottom of the barrel, and partially
on the loading lever. There is also a “B” marked on the loading lever, which is likely
an ordnance inspector mark.
CONDITION: Good, showing mostly a smooth grey patina with some scattered patches of light pitting and a crack near the cylinder pin. The grips are also good with some scattered minor handling marks, a few hairline age cracks, and mostly well-defined checkering. The cylinder does not turn or lockup when the hammer is cocked, otherwise mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3101
Fine Civil War U.S. Contract
Starr Arms Co. Model 1858 Army Double Action
Revolver - Serial no. 7782, 44 cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. The Model 1858 Army double action revolvers were
manufactured by the Starr Arms Co. of New York. Between 1862 and
1864 the Ordnance Department purchased approximately 21,000 .44
caliber Starr D.A. revolvers. These revolvers were issued to a broad array of
Union cavalry regiments from Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The first 9,900 of these revolvers were procured in 1862. The one-piece grip is smooth walnut and has cartouches on both the left and right. It also has the standard Starr markings and small government inspection
markings on the various components.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% plus of the
original blue finish with the balance having
thinned to a smooth grey or plum brown
patina. The grip is also fine with some minor
dings on the butt, a minor chip absent from
the lower left edge, and some scattered light
handling marks. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
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