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Enfields-Revolvers-Muskets
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F367. CONFEDERATE - "Q" MARKED - CAPTURED, CLEANED, REPAIRED & REISSUED 1864 TRENTON RIFLE: This is an example of an 1864 Trenton contract rifle, which was Confederate captured, cleaned, repaired, and reissued (C&R). The gun shows heavy combat use with bumps and dings, but is in good working condition with no breaks or major issues. The lock properly functions in both half & full cock positions; the nipple is period original; the barrel has original inspection marks, but the date is gone due to heavy use, and the ram-rod is original. Many captured and reissued Confederate weapons simply required a light cleaning in order to pass inspection. Others, required more extensive work. Some people think these guns should be unflawed as if original, but that is incorrect and often not the case! It is the flaws that show what work was performed to make the gun serviceable. In fact, you hope to find the repair issues! This gun has a replaced front site, as well as the barrel bands, which may be Confederate made. After completing the work, the weapon would have been tested for functionality and then approved for re-issue by an inspector and marked with their respective stamp “A, F, Q, T, Z, D” before being shipped off for issuance in the Army of Northern Virginia. On the underside, forward of the trigger tang, is stamped the letter “Q”, which is faint but visible. It is the proper size, with an oval shape and squiggly tail. On the flat side opposite the lock are the initial “F I” and on the side of the butt stock is carved a large cross, also known as a crutch cross. Shipping & Insurance included. $1995.00
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“Z”
F379. RARE! - CONFEDERATE CAPTURED, CLEANED & REPAIRED NEW MODEL SHARPS, UNION RECAPTURED AND POST WAR CONVERTED TO .50-70 CARBINE: This is an extremely rare Civil War & Post War Sharps Carbine. It originally started as a New Model Sharps and was issued early in 1865 to union troops, was Confederate captured and went through the Clean & Repaired process, butthen Union recaptured and later converted to .50 – 70 in 1868 for Indian War use. The serial number on this gun is C19440. C19358 went to the 15th New York Cavalry and C19543 went to the 8th New York Cavalry, so it is likely this gun when to one of those two units, which where both fighting in Virginia during the advance on Richmond. This Sharps Carbine went through the Confederate C&R (clean, repair) process and has the inspection mark “Z” on the underside to the rear of the trigger tang. This mark is associated with Captain Louis Zimmer, who was involved with Confederate clean and repair operations at Richmond. It is unknown exactly what work was done on the gun during the C & R process, and I doubt the gun was ever reissued to Confederate troops as Richmond fell. The gun is in amazing condition. The barrel is marked New Model 1863 to the rear of the site with faint HARTFORD CT mark to the front. The SHARP maker mark is on the front of the lock with the correct marks on the opposite side. The barrel retains 98% + original finish and has a bright 6-grove bore, and there is a good amount of case-coloring on the gun. The stock is in near-mint condition and there is the post-war cartouche that was applied when the gun was converted to .50-70. There is a small chip on the forearm of the stock, but otherwise also near-mint. From February 1868 to October 1869, approximately 32,190 carbines were switched over to the .50-70 cartridge. The carbines were immediately sent to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments in the West. This is an amazing example of a Sharps Carbine which saw action in Virginia during the Civil War, was Confederate captured and Union recaptured, and later converted to .50-70 for Indian War Service. Shipping & Insurance included. $7700.00
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F386. RARE - ALLEN & WHEELOCK LIP FIRE ARMY REVOLVER: The development of Allen’s “Lip Fire” self-contained cartridges were truly revolutionary, especially because the rimfire cartridges of the era that were offered by Smith & Wesson in their #1 and #2 revolvers were only .22 and .32 caliber respectively, while Allen offered self-contained handgun cartridges in the much larger calibers of .36 and .44. Unfortunately, the production of Allen & Wheelock Lip Fire and Rim Fire series of revolvers was brought to a screeching halt due to litigation from Smith & Wesson, who were defending the bored through cylinder patent of Rollin White, to which they had purchased exclusive access. Allen managed to produce his side-hammer rimfire revolvers for slightly more than 3 years, from about 1859 until November of 1863, before the patent infringement suit shut down the production of that product line as well. His revolutionary Lip Fire revolvers saw a much shorter production life, with the guns being introduced in late 1860 or early 1861 and being put out of production by the November 1863 court order. The Allen & Wheelock Center Hammer Lip Fire “Army” revolver was the large bore, .44 caliber revolver in the series. It used a single-action mechanism but fired Allen’s proprietary, self-contained .44 Lip Fire cartridge. It is estimated that between 250 and 500 of these revolvers were produced from about mid-1860 until November of 1863, when a court order ended production of Allen revolvers with bored through cylinders. As a result of the relatively small production numbers, this scarce revolver is often missing from even advanced collections of Civil War era secondary martial revolvers. The Allen & Wheelock Lip Fire Army revolver had a six-shot cylinder and a 7-inch half-octagon/half-round barrel. They guns were produced with two different styles of loading gate, with the earliest production guns having a gate hinged at the top and the later production guns having one hinged at the bottom. The guns were also produced with two different styles of grips, one being a standard taper (the most commonly encountered version) and the other having a pronounced “flare” towards their bottoms. The guns used a unique cam-action trigger guard to actuate the ejector, which removed the spent cases from the cylinder. This same mechanism provided the loading lever action for the percussion version of the Center Hammer Army revolver. The revolvers were blued, with color case hardened hammers and trigger guards, and the two-piece walnut grips were varnished. The guns were “serial numbered” (assembly numbered) on most of the major components, including the frame (under the grips), on the face of the cylinder, on the cylinder arbor pin, on the ejector rod, inside the grips and on many of the internal parts. The only other markings usually found on the Allen & Wheelock Lip Fire Army revolver was the two-line address and patent date mark found the left side of octagon portion of the barrel.
This revolver is all original and is fully functional. The action is tight and the cylinder properly cycles and the hammer locks correctly, and the unique loading lever properly works. The assemble number 121 matches on all parts. The gun has an even grayish light brown patina, but the marking are weak due to the overuse of the die stamp. This is a rare and difficult Civil War period revolver, which is often missing for advanced collections. Shipping & Insurance included. $2800.00
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Michigan Cavalry Soldier armed with an Allen & Wheelock Revolver, Colt Carbine & Saber
#65 CO I 3RD MICH VOL CAV & #68 CO I 3RD MICH VOL CAV
F394. ALLEN & WHEELOCK CENTER HAMMER ARMY: This is an example of a Civil War Production Allen & Wheelock Army revolver that was manufactured by the Worchester, Massachusetts firm in 1861-62. Allen & Wheelock manufactured approximately 700 Center Hammer Army revolvers and the Ordnance Department purchased 536 in 1861. Nearly all those guns were subsequently issued to the 2nd & 3rd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry regiments. The revolver was a .44 caliber, six-shot, percussion single action revolver that had a 7 ˝” half-round and half-octagon barrel that utilized a unique ratcheting loading lever that formed the trigger guard of the revolver. Surviving examples with original case blue finish are rare. This gun remains in very crisp, complete condition with assemble number 66, and displays well with lots of original blue finish on the cylinder; hammer; trigger; and a good amount of original finish on the underside of the barrel and recessed areas. The grips are tight and in near-mint condition! Several revolvers close to the number on this gun are listed in the Springfield Research Service file as having been in the possession of A company of the 3rd Michigan Cavalry; numbers 65 & 68. Since only two small recorded groups of Allen & Wheelock Army serial numbers are known, Company I 3rd MI Cavalry and Company A 2nd MI Cavalry, it is quite likely this gun was issued to another company within the 3rd MI Cavalry. This would be a wonderful addition to any advanced collection of secondary martial revolvers, and will certainly be a fine addition to a Michigan Cavalry grouping. Overall, this is an outstanding example of an Allen & Wheelock Center Hammer Army percussion revolver. Shipping & Insurance included. $3400.00
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F395. CONFEDERATE ALTERED - HARPERS FERRY 1842 MUSKET - 1845 DATED: This 1842 Harpers Ferry musket is Confederate altered to the size of a 2-band rifle, and once had a Confederate blade site. It is in attic-found condition and has not been cleaned and is all original! The stock is rough with a few splits in the stock near the left side of the barrel, but the wood is strong and not loose. The lock properly functions in both half & full cock position and is dated the same as the barrel;1845. The ramrod is originally for an 1860 Springfield rifle, but was shorten and treaded at its bottom, not just cut down. On the top of the barrel, you can see two groves for a Confederate blade site, which is long gone. There is also is saddle wear on the underside forward of the trigger guard. Shipping & Insurance is included. $995.00
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“Z”
F401. CONFEDERATE “Z” MARKED CLEANED AND REPAIRED - ORIGINAL CONFEDERATE PATTERN 1853 ENFIELD RIFLE: This is an original purchased Confederate Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle with a Script “WC” viewers mark forward of the butt plate tang. On page 116 of the book “English Connection” it states “This unusual and distinctive mark appears on a Birmingham rifle musket with an “1862” / “TOWER” lock. This is the only stamp seen with this unique style of lettering. Others are seen either conventional block or script letters.” This Enfield also has the letter “Z” on the underside, forward of the trigger tang, which means this gun went through the “C&R” Clean & Repair at the Richmond Arsenal/Artillery Work-shop and inspected by Lous Zimmer. The stock is all original as it the barrel and bands and sling swivels. The lock is dated 1863 and looks original, but may be replaced since the book mentions an 1862 lock for the original “WC” viewer marks. The lock proper function, the nipple is original as is the ramrod and the bore has strong rifling, but dark and need cleaned. The rear site is missing. Shipping & Insurance included. An original “WC” viewer marked Confederate Pattern 1853 Enfield are rare to find, even more exceptional is finding on that went through the “C&R” Clean & Repair process. Shipping & Insurance included. $2500.00
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F406. SERIAL NUMBERED 1853 ENFIELD RIFLE – CONFEDERATE ARSENAL MODIFIED TO COMBAT SHOTGUN: During the Civil War, the South recovered weapons and other military items off the battlefield to be refurbished and reused. For those weapons being restored to original condition, the Clear & Repair system in Richmond was utilized. However, there was another earlier system established to convert some guns for a purpose other than originally designed. Many full-sized guns were cut-down and smoothed bored making them into shotguns to use buck & ball ammunition. Buck-and-ball was a common load use by Confederates and consisted of a large caliber lead musket ball combined with three to six buckshot pellets. This was not a post-war conversion, but done early in the war. This is an early Confederate Enfield rifle. It has serial number 8056 on the butt plate; “S” stamped on the top of the stock for the maker Smith and a JS Anchor on the underside by the trigger tang. The barrel is reduced to 28 1/2 inches and smooth bored; the rear site was removed; the barrel has a cut for a front site and a cut for a bayonet lug. There is no rear swivel, and the lock is marked CROWN /TOWER/1861. The lock properly functions, and has the modified ram-rod, which is rare. If this were a full size gun it would be priced around $6000.00, but this is available at a reduced price. Shipping & Insurance is included. $1895.00
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F425. SHARPS & HANKINS NAVAL CARBINE: The US M1862 Navy Carbine by Sharps & Hankins, Philadelphia was one of the more interesting and unique arms to see service with the US Navy. Between 1862 and 1865 about 8,000 of these breech-loading carbines were produced. The carbines were produced in .52 rimfire with a unique sliding breech system for loading and unloading. The carbine had a 24” barrel and was rifled with 6 grooves and featured a leather shroud around the barrel to protect the barrel from deterioration due to the salty and highly corrosive environment. Often these leather covers are in very rough condition or entirely missing. Of the 8,000 “Naval” pattern carbines produced, the Navy purchased 6,686. The gun saw extensive use during the American Civil War with the Brown Water Navy gunboats in support of the infantry on the river ways of the south seeing service in the inventory of no less than forty-eight boats and ships. This Carbine is unique not only for the leather cover on the barrel, but the fact that it is factory plated. This was done to protest it while at sea. The stock has expected dings and dents and there is a thin stress fracture on the right side that looks period; however, the stock is strong with no movement. The leather cover is in near-mint original condition and properly attached to the barrel. There is one sling swivel; the gun is serial number 11111 on the tang and barrel; the hammer does not hold in half-cock, but does fully lock. Overall. this is a nice looking and 100% complete example of a relatively rare US Navy carbine. The gun is in tremendously better condition than they are usually encountered in, with a fine leather barrel shroud and crisp markings. This is one of those not to common carbines that is missing from many Civil War carbine and long arm collection and would be a nice addition to any Civil War naval display. Shipping & Insurance included. $2400.00
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F430. LOUISIANA PURCHASED 1853 ENFIELD RIFLE – CONFEDERATE ARSENAL MODIFIED COMBAT SHOTGUN: During the Civil War, the South recovered weapons and other military items off the battlefield to be refurbished and reused. For those weapons being restored to original condition, the Clear & Repair system in Richmond was utilized. However, there was another earlier system established to convert some guns for a purpose other than originally designed. Many full-sized guns were cut-down and smoothed bored making them into shotguns to use buck & ball ammunition. Buck-and-ball was a common load use by Confederates and consisted of a large caliber lead musket ball combined with three to six buckshot pellets. This was not a post-war conversion, but done early in the war. This Enfield is one of the rare ones purchased by the State of Louisiana. These did not have serial numbers, but were stamped with a six-point star with a circle L in the center, and the mark is found on the underside of the stock to the rear of the trigger guard. The stock on this gun is cut back to the first band. The barrel is reduced to 30 1/4 inches and smooth bored, and the rear site was removed and a notch was cut for a front site. There is no rear swivel, and the lock is marked with a Crown & 1861 over TOWER and it properly function. A Louisiana surcharged Enfield is rare in any condition, and at the December show in Franklin, I saw a full-size example priced for $14,000. This is available at a much more reasonable priced. Shipping & Insurance is included. $1995.00
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F433. COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER – 1861: This is a Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver; Serial Number 104103; (Manufacture Year – 1861. The serial number matches on all parts to include the wedge, loading lever and cylinder. The Grips are original as are all screws. The Colt maker mark on the top of the barrel is very strong, but there is some pitting, and the cylinder scene is visible, but also has some pitting. Most likely it is from gun power residue. The action is tired and properly cycles and hold in both half and full cock positions, and the rifling is strong. The gun is very tight. Shipping & Insurance included. $2500.00
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F446. COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER – 1861: This is a Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver; Serial Number 109757; (Manufacture Year – 1861. The serial number matches on all parts to include the cylinder, the guard, backstrap, lower received, barrel and loading lever, but not the wedge, which is 722. This number is so close that it might be a factory error. The frame looks to be factory plated indicating it may have been acquired by the Navy; this was done to protect it from salt water corrosion. The grips and all screws are original, and the gun is tight. The action properly functions and it hold both half and full cock, and cycles correctly. The Colt maker mark on the top of the barrel. The cylinder scene is all but gone and there is some gun power pitting, and the rifling is strong. Shipping & Insurance is included. $1600.00
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F466. CONFEDERATE INVENTORY NUMBERED JS-ANCHOR MARKED PATTERN 1853 ENFIELD: The British Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket, marked with the Confederate JS / {ANCHOR}, was one of the most iconic arms to see service with the Confederacy during the American Civil War. The stock on this gun is complete with expected bumps and dings, and has the initials “C F W” carved on the right side of the stock. There are 5 Confederate soldiers listed in the Civil War data base with these initials; however, there are no other indicators on the gun to help with a positive indentification and thus the identity of the soldiers is unknown. On the underside of the stock forward of the trigger guard is the faint outline of a Crown over something, and below that is the faint outline of the JS – ANCHOR. This mark is barely visible without proper lighting & magnification, but there it is! The lock is marked CROWN / TOWER over 1861 and properly functions, and has the original nipple protector and chain. The brass butt plate has the number 3586, but the period ramrod in unnumbered. All the metal has matching deep brown patina. Shipping & Insurance included. $6500.00
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CLICK THE ABOVE ICON TO READ THE COMPLETE HISTORY
F479. 17TH TEXAS CAVALRY - IDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE AUSTRIAN M-1854 LORENZ RIFLE: This is a wonderful example of the Austrian M-1854 Lorenz Rifle Musket, as imported by the Confederacy during the American Civil War, and carried by Texas Cavalry. On the stock is carves two sets of initials; the first is “J D” with an illegible last name and a carving of a bird, which looks like a goose, and a second set “T. F. I.” carved over the other initials. It is difficulty to identify a soldier just by two letters without additional information, but three initials help narrow the search. It has an original bayonet.
In this case, a search of the Civil War database; Ancestry; and Fold3, found only two Confederates with the initials (T.F.I.): Thomas F. Ivey a Confederate Midshipman and Thomas F Ivy of the 17th Texas Cavalry. The Confederate Navy did not use Lorenz Rifles nor is it a weapon carried by a naval officer; where as there is good documentation that Texas cavalry units used Lorenz rifles. This leaves only Private Thomas F Ivy!
Confederate records are often incomplete and limited as to the whole history of a Confederate Soldier. We know that Private Ivy was born in Alabama in January 15, 1846, and is listed as being 14 years of age on the 1860 census. Three years later at the age of 17, he enlisted in Company “E” 17th Texas Cavalry (Moore’s Regiment) on February 26, 1862; Mustered in on March 15, 1862; and was discharged May 22 1862 for being “Under” 18; however, we know he survived the war because he died on April 13,1932 at the age of 88. In all likelihood, Private Ivy most likely reenlisted in 1863 after turning 18 and received a Lorenze rifle and carved his initial on the gun when he joined the Seventeenth Texas Cavalry, Consolidated.
The Lorenz was the third most used infantry arm on both sides during the war, and somewhere between with the US importing approximately 250,000 of the guns during the war and the Confederates importing at least 100,000, and quite possibly more. The Confederacy was always thought to have purchased most of their Lorenz’s after Caleb Huse visited Vienna as the Confederate Ordnance Department purchasing agent 1863, however more recent research indicates that Huse purchased his first Lorenz rifle muskets through S. Isaac, Campbell & Co of London in 1862. It appears that many of the guns that were purchased by the Confederacy were in their original 13.9mm caliber (about .547), while many of the US purchased guns were re-bored to more closely approximate the standard US caliber of .58.
The importance of the .54 caliber Austrian M-1854 Lorenz to the Confederacy might best be illustrated by an invoice from the famous English ammunition manufacturer Eley Brothers. The invoice is contained within the McRae Papers, and is dated July 18, 1863 some two weeks after the Battle of Gettysburg and the fall of Vicksburg, MS. The invoice is for 700,000 paper cartridges. The order included “600,000 Austrian Rifle Cartridges “Marked A” and “100,000 Ball & Buck Short Musket Cartridges “Marked M”. While the caliber of the Austrian cartridges is not specified, it seems clear that the order would be for .54-caliber ammunition, as the order contains no request for any .58 ammunition. This order implies that the Confederate Ordnance Department laboratories were capable of supplying a sufficient number of .58 caliber cartridges for the guns in the field, but needed assistance in providing enough ammunition for Lorenz’s and smoothbore muskets.
This gun is in the classic “Confederate” configuration, often referred to as a “Type I” by collectors. It retains its original 13.9mm (.54) bore, has a block rear sight, and a cheek rest on the reverse of the buttstock. The gun is dated 860 for 1860 on the lock, forward of the hammer and the double-headed Austrian Eagle is stamped to the rear of the hammer at the tail of the lock. The top of the breech is stamped with the name of arms maker, but is hard to read due to the gun power oxidation.
This Austrian M-1854 Lorenz Rifle Musket is in VERY GOOD+ to NEAR FINE condition. The gun is quite crisp with fine edges present on both the metal and the wood. The gun has a lightly oxidized “salt & pepper” appearance to the metal, which shows a mottled gray-brown over pewter patina on all the metal. There is some scattered light surface peppering and pinpricking over all of the metal surfaces as well. The gun is mechanically excellent and the lock functions crisply on all positions. The original tomb stone block rear sight, front sight/bayonet lug and both original sling swivels are present on the rifle. The bore of the gun rates about VERY GOOD+ to NEAR FINE. The original 4-groove Austrian rifling remains crisp, and the bore is mostly bright with some light frosting in the grooves. The original ramrod is in the channel under the barrel and it is full length, with fine threads on the end. The stock of the rifle rates VERY GOOD+ to NEAR FINE as well. As noted, the stock is crisp and retains sharp edges and shows no signs of ever having been sanded. The stock is full length with no breaks, cracks or repairs noted. The stock does show the usual bumps and dings from use in the field. The bayonet properly fits and is tight.
Overall, this is simply a wonderfully crisp, untouched, and unmolested Austrian M-1854 Lorenz Rifle Musket in the very desirable Type I configuration. Shipping & Insurance is free. $2700.00
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F440. BURNSIDE 5th MODEL CARBINE - UNION 2nd TEXAS SERIAL NUMBER RANGE: This 5th model Burnside Carbine is serial number 11029, which falls between two known Union 2nd Texas cavalry guns: 11023 & 11070 Company C, 2nd Texas Cavalry (Union). The Stock is double cartouche and is in great condition. The blue finish is very strong and there remains a good amount of case coloring. Union Texas Volunteers - 2nd Regiment, Texas Cavalry: Organized at Brownsville, Texas, December 15, 1863. Served Unattached, Cavalry, 13th Army Corps, Texas, Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. Cavalry Brigade, United States Forces, Texas, to June, 1864. District of Morganza, Dept. of the Gulf, to August, 1864. Separate Cavalry Brigade, 19th Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to November, 1864. Duty at Brownsville and on the Rio Grande, Texas, till July, 1864. Ordered to New Orleans, La., thence to Morganza August 6, and duty there till November. Consolidated with 1st Texas Cavalry November 1, 1864.This is a great looking 5th Model Burnside Carbine most likely carried by a soldier in the 2nd Texas Cavalry (Union). Shipping & Handing included. $3300.00
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The London Armoury Company Kerr’s Patent Revolver is one of the most distinctive and recognizable of all Civil War era handguns. The side mounted hammer and removable side plate were not common features in large bore handguns of the era and result in a unique silhouette. The Kerr patent revolver was invented by James Kerr, who was awarded two patents for improvements to Roberts Adams earlier revolver design. Kerr had been a founding member of the London Armoury Company, which was established on 9 February 1856 and of which Adams was the Managing Director during the late 1850s. It is interesting to note that Kerr was Adams’ cousin and previously worked with him at Deane, Adams & Deane. Initially the London Armoury Company (LAC) focused on producing Model 1854 Beaumont-Adams patent revolvers with an eye towards obtaining lucrative English military contracts. When significant orders were not forthcoming, the company shifted its focus to manufacturing the British Pattern 1853 “Enfield” Rifle Muskets for both the English government and private sale. This caused a rift within the company management that culminated with the departure of Adams from L.A.C. and the elevation of Kerr to the position of factory superintendent. With the departure of Adams, and the perceived need to offer some form of revolver for sale, the company purchased Kerr’s patent rights and started to produce the Kerr patent revolver in 1859. The first pistol was completed in March of 1859 and was tested at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock on April 25, 1859. The pistol was typical of large bore English handguns of the era, in that it was 54-Bore (about .442 caliber) and had a 5-chambered cylinder. The gun was manufactured with barrel lengths that varied slightly, with the earliest guns having barrels around 5 7/8” in length and the later pistols having slightly shorter barrels that varied between about 5 ˝” and 5 5/8”. While the large majority of the pistols produced were in 54-Bore, a small number of very early and very late production pistols were manufactured in 80-Bore (approximately .387 caliber). The majority of the pistols used a single action mechanism, not a double action mechanism as the trigger position in the center of the triggerguard implies. The hammer could only be cocked by pulling it back manually, but pulling the trigger could rotate the cylinder. This was a byproduct of the cylinder locking system, which relied on a pivoting arm that was actuated by the trigger. This arm locked the cylinder in place when the gun was fired. This was very different from the standard spring-loaded cylinder stop found in frames of most American made revolvers. This system also eliminated the need to machine stop slots in the cylinder, as the rear face of cylinder was where the arm locked it into position. Only a handful of Kerr revolvers were manufactured as “self-cocking” (double action) revolvers, and they are very rare today. The Kerr also featured a unique, frame mounted cylinder arbor that was removed from the rear of the pistol, much like on the Colt 1855 Side Hammer “Root” designs, instead of the more common location at the front of the cylinder. This made the pistol easier and safer to manipulate when the cylinder had to be removed from the pistol. The early production Kerr revolvers had a small setscrew on the left side of the frame, forward of the cylinder that prevented the cylinder arbor pin from being withdrawn from the rear of the frame. The later production revolvers had a frame mounted spring on the left side, similar in appearance to the Model 1851 Adams patent safety, which retained the arbor pin. Adams would use a similar arbor pin retention spring on the frame of his 1854 patent revolvers. Early production revolvers had a wide groove machined in the topstrap, while the later production guns had a flat topstrap without a groove. The early guns also had a loading lever that pivoted on a screw located at the lower front edge of the frame, under the barrel. The later production guns moved this pivot point higher and closer to the cylinder, making it somewhat stronger and allowing more torque to be applied to the lever when loading tight fitting ammunition. Most of these early features were phased out in the upper 2,XXX to middle 3,XXX serial number range, although some of the features appear somewhat randomly through about the middle of revolver production, suggesting that sometimes older parts were used to complete orders when time was of the essence. Although the design was reliable and fairly robust, the London Armoury Company did not find any British military contracts forthcoming for their pistol. Between the introduction of the Kerr in 1859 and the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861, only about 1,000-1,500 of the revolvers were manufactured, and even fewer were sold. Most of these pistols were sold commercially, both in Great Britain and in the US, with about 100 of the revolvers being purchased by an English Volunteer unit the 1st Sussex Artillery Volunteers. With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Caleb Huse, the South’s primary purchasing agent in England, engaged the London Armory Company to produce all of the Kerr’s Patent revolvers that they could for delivery to the Confederacy. It is believed that nearly all of the L.A.C.’s output of Kerr revolvers from April of 1861 through the close of the Civil War were produced on contract for the Confederacy, with about 9,000 pistols produced and shipped to the south during that time. It is also estimated that the London Armoury Company produced about 70,000 Patter 1853 Enfield Rifle Muskets during the same time frame. The estimate regarding revolver production is borne out by the extant examples with Confederate provenance or marks, which tend to exist in the 1,500 to about the 10,500 serial number range. To date, at least three separate Confederate government contracts have been identified for the purchase of Kerr revolvers. Two were army contracts, and one was a 1,000-gun contract for the Confederate Navy. The Naval contract was quite early, as a reference to the purchase of Kerr revolvers by CSN Commander James D. Bulloch was made in a diary entry by Confederate purchasing agent Major Edward Anderson dated August 6, 1861. Many of the army contract Kerr revolvers were financed through the Charleston, SC based firm of Fraser, Trenholm & Company and delivered by their subsidiary John Fraser & Company. A minimum of 3,160 Kerr revolvers were delivered directly to Confederate arsenals by Fraser. In addition to the 3 government contracts, an unknown number of Kerr’s Patent revolvers were acquired speculatively for sale privately and to the Confederate military once they reached the south. This may account for the number of Kerr revolvers that exist today with unquestionable Confederate provenance, but without the JS/{Anchor} Confederate inspection mark. One of the standard indicators of CS importation and usage of a Kerr revolver is the presence of the enigmatic JS/{Anchor} that is often located on the front of the wooden grip of the pistols, below the grip frame tang. This is the inspection mark of John Southgate, who acted as a “viewer” (arms inspector) for the Confederacy. However, the absence of this mark is not necessarily an indication that the pistol was not a CS purchase. As the information above outlines that the majority of Kerr’s over serial number 1,500 and below 10,500 were produced on contract for the Confederacy. To date, the lowest numbered Kerr to bear the JS/{Anchor} inspection mark that I am aware of is in the lower third of the 7XX range, and the highest verifiable mark is just under 10,000. Over the years, a number of Kerr’s with spurious JS/{Anchor} marks have been noted, often found on guns that did not have them when they were first documented during the past 30-40 years but had them magically appear over the course of time. The best concrete documentary evidence of how high the CS used serial numbers of Kerr revolvers ranged is the Squad Roll of Lt. Julian Pratt of Company H of the 18th Virginia Cavalry. This document lists the pistols in possession of his squad of cavalry in July of 1864. On the list are seven Kerr revolvers that range between #9240 and #9974. Since the Confederacy would continue to import Kerr pistols throughout the end of the war, the last documented shipment was 8 cases in March of 1865, it is not unreasonable to extrapolate CS purchases into about the 10,500 serial number range. It is interesting to note that two of the Kerr revolvers on the Pratt Roll are known to survive today, and revolver #9974 does not have a JS/Anchor mark. This indicates that this gun was a speculative purchase and not a government contract purchase, which would have received the JS/{Anchor} inspection mark.While very scarce today, a number of Kerr revolvers were imported with a complete set of accouterments and accessories that would have been included in a cased set. According to the Payne Ledger, some 900 Kerr revolvers arrived at the port of Wilmington, NC on October 31, 1864. These guns also had the following accessories: “Spare Nipples & Cloth Bags, 900 Powder Flasks, 900 Cleaning Rods, 450 Steel Nipple Keys, 180 Bullet Moulds, 180 Mainsprings, 180 Trigger Springs, 90,000 Skin Cartridges, 108,000 Percussion Caps”.
The guns were delivered by the blockade-runner Hope and were part of the consignment purchased through John Fraser & Company. 500 of the guns and their associated accouterments were subsequently delivered to the Selma Arsenal, and the other 400 and their accessories were delivered to the Richmond Arsenal. The presence of accessories like cleaning rods, powder flasks, cloth bags and the combination gun tools (listed as “steel nipple keys”), suggest that the guns were purchased as cased sets, and were subsequently repacked into the standard 20 guns per box lead lined cases that most Kerr revolvers were delivered to the Confederacy in. The powder flasks and cloth bags were certainly of limited utility for guns that were designed to be used with “skin cartridges”. Bullet molds were typically delivered to the Confederacy at a ratio of 1 for every 20 long arms but in this case, they were delivered at the ratio of 1 for every 5 pistols. The cleaning rods would certainly have been useful in the field, but this is the only report I can find of cleaning rods being purchased by the Confederacy for use with revolvers. All of this suggests that these accessories originated in cased Kerr revolver sets. It seems quite likely that additional cased sets were acquired on a speculative basis for delivery to the south as well. Today all of these accessories are extremely rare, most especially the special Kerr revolver combination gun tool and cone (nipple) wrench. With the conclusion of the American Civil War, the London Armoury Company quickly succumbed to the loss of its largest customer. The company closed exactly one year after the end of the American Civil War, in April of 1866. It believed that the remaining factory assets and machinery were sold to a gun making company in Spain the following year. Kerr himself did remain in business for some time after this and assembled and sold Kerr revolvers from the existing stock of parts. This accounts for the post 11,000 serial numbered pistols occasionally encountered, usually in relatively nice condition. On a side note, collectors and researchers have long debated the correct pronunciation for James Kerr’s last name. According to Val Forgett Jr., gun collector, researcher and current owner of Navy Arms and Old Western Scrounger, his extensive research indicates that even the British disagree about the pronunciation, but the most correct pronunciation would almost certainly be KARR, while the next most common pronunciation would be KARE. The Americanized pronunciation is CUR.
The Kerr’s Patent Revolver offered here is an extremely scarce, cased example in FINE condition. The revolver retains some of its original accessories, including the extremely scarce and delicate “cloth bag” in which the spare percussion cones were contained. The gun is serial numbered 9571 on the right side of the frame and on the cylinder. Interestingly I have previously owned another cased Kerr Revolvers close to this one, number 9620. Both of these guns are well within the range of known Confederate acquisitions, and within the range of Kerr numbers listed on the Pratt list, which runs from 9240 to 9974. Like #9974 on the Pratt Roll, neither of these guns are marked with a JS/{Anchor} inspection mark, suggesting they were speculative purchases rather than a government contract revolver. While most Kerr revolvers are marked on the side plate with the legend LONDON ARMORY Co, this one is unmarked. Unmarked lock plates are found occasionally during Kerr revolver production and like the scarce 80-Bore revolvers, are found during early and late production. One example is known in the 8XX range with most examples appearing in the latter part of the 9XXX range and appearing through the early 10,XXX range.
The right side of the frame is marked: KERR’s PATENT 9571. The left side of the frame is marked with the two-line oval cartouche of the London Armoury Company and reads: LONDON in an arc over ARMORY, which is arched in the opposite directly. The left upper flat of the octagonal barrel is marked near the frame with the initials L.A.C. along with the commercial London view and proof marks of a {Crown}/GP and {Crown}/V. Alternating {Crown}/V and {Crown}/GP proof marks are also found between the chambers of the cylinder. The pistol is also marked with the typical London Armoury Company assembly numbers. The assembly number is 318 and the number is present on the face of the cylinder, inside the trigger guard, and inside the bottom of the frame. These assembly numbers are often illegible due to wear at the face of the cylinder and inside the frame, and only the number in the triggerguard typically survives clearly readable. The original cylinder pin retention spring is present and secure, and the action of the pistol works perfectly. The functions as correctly as a single action revolver, and time, indexes and locks up as it should. The original loading lever is present and functions smoothly also. The gun retains about 30% of its original blued finish overall. Most of the surviving bright blue is present on the frame, with some bright blue on the rear portion of the 5 5/8” barrel. Most of the finish loss appears to be the result of flaking. Most of the metal that shows finish loss has developed a moderately oxidized mottled brown and gray patina. The metal of the frame and barrel is primarily smooth with some scattered areas of minor surface roughness. The cylinder has a mottled patina that is a mixture of some flashes of blue, oxidized brown metal and some dull pewter gray metal. The cylinder shows more moderate oxidation and somewhat more heavily scattered patches of light surface roughness. The color casehardened lock, hammer and loading lever have a rich, dusky tobacco patina with some muted mottling that suggests the original case colored finish. The fire blued small parts like the arbor pin retention spring and the loading lever retention spring retain some nice, vibrant blue color. All of the edges and markings of the pistol remain extremely sharp and crisp. Like most Kerr revolvers, the gun has a lanyard ring in the butt cap, and it remains in very good, completely functional condition. The ring and butt cap have a rich, uncleaned dark brown patina. The original brass post front sight is present on the end of the barrel near the muzzle and remains full height with the original crowning to its end. The bore of the pistol is in FINE condition and remains quite bright and sharp. The bore retains very crisp rifling and shows only some lightly scattered oxidation and frosting in the grooves. The one-piece checkered walnut grip is in FINE condition as well. It retains extremely sharp checkering over most of its surface, with only the most minor indication of handling and light use. The grip is free of breaks, cracks, chips, or repairs, and has a rich brown color with some nice figure to the grain.
The pistol is contained within its original English casing and is complete with a number of accessories. The casing is typical English oak design with “Bible” hinges and a brass lock on the front. The case is in NEAR VERY GOOD condition and shows moderate wear, some warping, and the beginnings of some joint separations. The brass lock and escutcheon are present at the front of the case and the key is present as well. While the key appears to fit and operate the lock, it does not do so reliably, and the lock may have some internal issues. It is recommended that the case not be locked as there is the potential it will remain that way. The interior compartments are lined with a faded green baize that shows good age and wear and is of the correct color and style for other known Kerr revolver cases. The case is in solid condition with no serious weakness to the structure itself or the interior compartment dividers. There is no retailer label inside the case lid, and no indication that there ever was one affixed to the lining in the lid. The case is loaded with a number of English revolver accessories, all of which are contained in compartments. Like other Kerr cases, there is a fabric strap inside the case lid that was intended to secure the combination tool that was included with these sets. The strap is broken, and the very rare combination tool is missing from the set.
F471. CONFEDERATE KERR REVOLVER – 2ND VARIATION: The London Armoury Company Kerr’s Patent Revolver is one of the most distinctive and instantly recognizable of all Civil War era handguns. With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Caleb Huse (the South’s primary purchasing agent in England) engaged the London Armory Company to produce all the Kerr’s Patent revolvers that they could for delivery to the Confederacy. It is believed that nearly all of the L.A.C.’s output of Kerr revolvers from April of 1861 through the close of the Civil War was produced on contract for the Confederacy, with about 9,000 (and possibly at many 10,000) pistols produced and shipped to the south during that time; and it is believed that nearly all of the L.A.C.’s output of Kerr revolvers from April of 1861 through the close of the Civil War was produced on contract for the Confederacy, with about 9,000 (and possibly at many 10,000) pistols produced and shipped to the south during that time. The 2nd variation guns are numbered from about 1051 until 2700 and still have the rammer pivot screw forward of the frame but the top strap above the cylinder becomes flat. The checkering on the wood grip is slightly modified to allow for a small, clear panel behind the trigger for the “JS-Anchor” viewer’s mark. The serial number on the gun is 2672. It is fully functional with the cylinder turning and locking when the hammer is cocked. The gun is properly marked in the grip and L.A.C with inspection marks on the barrel and cylinder. It is a brown gun, with 100% complete grip and lanyard ring and a strong “JS-Anchor” viewer marks. These are getting harder to find in nice condition. Shipping & Insurance included. $4900.00
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F500. CONFEDERATE CAPTURED & CARRIED STAR CARBINE: About 20,000 Starr percussion Carbines in .54 Caliber were bought by the Union during the Civil War, most of which were issued to Western troops. This weapon has a dropping breach, similar in action to the Sharps, and was rated as better in government tests, and was produced by the Starr Arms Company located in Yonkers, NY. They had a brass buttplate and barrel band, and the iron parts were blued with case – hardened lock and frame. They were all serial numbered with the lock marked STARR ARMS CO/ YONKERS. N.Y. The barrel is stamped STARR ARMS CO YONKERS, N.Y and the breech is stamped STARR’S PATENT / SEPT. 14th 1858. This is serial number 8292, which is close in range to the guns issued to the 3rd Arkansas cavalry (USA). However, there are several carvings on the gun that indicated it was Confederate captured and carried by a Southern cavalry soldier. The walnut stock has normal nicks and scratches seen with a carried gun and a brown patina, but there are several carvings commonly associated with the Confederacy: three Confederate flags carved into the left cheek stock, one with 6 stars, and there is an additional Confederate flag carved forward of the trigger. Additionally, there are three different sets of initials: “J S” “I M” and “B B B.” The initials "J S" are faint, with the S carved in reverse, and an unknown carving before these initials. On the opposite side are the initials “I M” and “B B B.” The Arkansas 1st Cavalry (Confederate) did have soldiers with these initials, but a positive identification is extremely difficult without more information. The bore is bright with strong rifling, and the action is mechanically perfect. Shipping & Insurance included. $2300.00
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F504. CONFEDERATE “Q” MARKED CLEANED AND REPAIRED - LEMAN ALTERED WHITNEY US M1841 MISSISSIPPI RIFLE: This is one of a reported 2,352 Model 1841 rifles period altered by Henry E. Leman to accept the .58 Caliber “Minie” and to accept a Model 1840 angular socket bayonet by turning down a section of the muzzle end of the barrel, on a contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This alteration was done during the Civil War. The lock is marked “N HAVEN 1852” behind the hammer and to the front “E. WHITNEY over US.” The barrel tag is dated “1852” and the barrel is marked “STEEL” and inspected “US/JOB/over V P.” The overall condition of the gun is excellent+ with great untouched plum-brown patina. The action is crisp and properly functions; the bore is in great shape with strong rifling, and the stock is solid and original. Inside the brass patch box is a spare firing nipple. Clearly, this gun was carried by a Pennsylvania soldier who lost it on a battlefield in Virginia, and it was recovered and sent to Richmond. There are vice clamp marks on the barrel, which is a common feature of many Confederate Cleaned & Repaired recovered guns. This one has a deep strong “Q” inspection marked forward of the trigger guard tang. Shipping & Insurance included. $6500.00
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CLICK THE ABOVE ICON TO READ THE COMPLETE HISTORY
F505. MISSOURI IDENTIFIED - 1853 ENFIELD RIFLE - SERIAL NUMBER BUTT PLATE - JS ANCHOR: This Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle is identified to William D. Maupin: Missouri State Guard & Missouri 1st Cavalry. Both units fought as dismounted infantry during the war. This is a serial numbered rifle and was in the second lot of 10,000 purchased by the Confederate Government: serial number 4868 A. It is also “S” marked forward of the butt plate and JS-Anchor to the rear of the trigger guard tang. The lock is CROWN and TOWER 1862 marked and properly functions, but the rear sight blade is missing. The bore is dark and nearly shot-out, but you can see faint rifling, and the ram-rod is a period with patina that matched the rifle. “W. D. Maupin” is carved on the front side of the butt stock. Some lettered are more pronounced than others, but are present. A search of the Civil War data base and National Civil War records found only one Confederate soldier with this name: Willian D. Maupin. Most likely he was issued this rifle when he was enlisted in the Missouri State Guard and retained it when it joined the Missouri 1st Cavalry since they fought dismounted for most of the war. He may or may not have carried it after he assumed command when promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, but we know that whatever he carried into battle of Corinth he discarded it to pick up the regimental flag shortly before he was killed.
William D. Maupin began hisConfederate service in the Missouri State Guard (MSG) as a Private and Sergeant: date of enlistment unknow. The Missouri State Guard was a military force established by the Missouri General Assembly on May 11, 1861. While not a formation of the Confederate States Army, the Missouri State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at various times, served under Confederate officers. Maupin joined the 1st Missouri Cavalry on December 7, 1861, so it can be surmised he was in the Missouri State Guard between May 11, 1861 & December 6, 1861 and saw action in some of the encounters fought by the Guard.
During his time of service, the Missouri State Guard fought in the following engagements: First Battle of Boonville, June 17, 1861; Battle of Cole Camp, June 19, 1861; Battle of Carthage, July 5, 1861; Battle of Dug Springs, August 2, 1861; Battle of Athens, August 5, 1861; Battle of Wilson's Creek, August 10, 1861; Battle of Dry Wood Creek, September 2, 1861; Action at Blue Mills Landing, September 17, 1861; First Battle of Lexington, September 13 to 20, 1861; Battle of Fredericktown, October 21, 1861; First Battle of Springfield, October 25, 1861.
On December 7, 1861at the age of 25, William D. Maupin enlisted as a Private into the Missouri 1st Cavalry, and was elected Captain on December 13, 1861; Company A, Missouri 1st Cavalry. He would serve as a captain for 6 months until June 1862 when he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took command: June 29, 1862. His muster sheets document him as a Lt. Col at Priceville, MS, June 15, 1862 and he was engaged at Carthage, Oak Hill, Dry Wood, Lexington, Sugar Creek, Bentonville, Elkhorn, Farmington, Iuka, and Corinth where he was killed on field October 5, 1862. Colonel William D. Maupin (1st Missouri Cavalry, fighting as infantry) fell while bearing the flag of his command after two color bearers had fallen. Shipping & Insurance included. $6900.00
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