Guns International #: 102709182
Seller's Inventory #: 1
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Guns International #: 102709182
Category - Civil War Revolvers
- Antique Revolvers - Percussion
GRISWOLD & GUNNISON 2ND MODEL RARE ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE REVOLVER
Description: GRISWOLD & GUNNISON SECOND MODEL RARE AUTHENTIC ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE REVOLVER. Only a few of these come up for every year. I have never seen one on here they are usually sold at large houses or dealers in top level Civil War items. These range from 20k to over 50k. Many have been heavily cleaned and the brass has been polished. Many have a barrel lug and frame fit is loose and may have gaps. Also on many the barrel is not in alignment with the frame due to fitment. This is not the case with this firearm it is tight. The one piece grip is in beautiful condition on this item and the patina is what you want to see in my opinion. Email me for a link to high quality photos (including the revolver partially disassembled) and Youtube videos including one showing the function of the action. See below for more details. Description: This Griswold and Gunnison Second Model six-shot .36 caliber brass framed revolver was made under contract to the Confederate government in late 1864. Based on the Colt Model 1851 Navy percussion revolver and manufactured by Samuel Griswold at his factory in Griswoldville, Georgia, c. 1864. Griswold revolvers were close copies of the Colt Model 1851 Navy with a distinctive brass frame and round Dragoon style barrel. This revolver has the "Second Model", part octagon, barrel lug. The brass frame lacks a capping channel. The cylinder can have the distinctive twist lines that are characteristic of Griswold revolvers with six stops and safety pins between each chamber. The wedge, correctly, does not have a spring. This revolver functions properly and the fit between the barrel lug and frame is so tight it cannot be disassembled. The fit is much better than most I have seen and some are so bad the barrel is not inline with the frame. The original wood grips are in beautiful condition. Connecticut Yankee Samuel Griswold set up a cotton gin factory in Georgia in 1830. The village of Griswoldville grew around the factory. In 1862, Griswold produced pikes for volunteers from the state of Georgia. The factory soon began producing revolvers for the Confederacy. Griswold manufactured approximately 3,700 of these well-made revolvers for the Confederate government between 1862 and 1864. Collectors have identified about 350 surviving Griswold revolvers. This revolver is not listed by serial number on page 36 of "CONFEDERATE HANDGUNS" by William Albaugh. This revolver however has been know since 2005 when it was brought to a gun show in South Carolina by a direct descendant of the soldier that carried it. It is part of a database maintained by John Sexton ://civilwardealer/ of all known Griswold revolvers. Some in the data base including this one includes photos, measurements, and cryptic markings. I was told this is better than half if not 2/3's in condition compared to other known examples. No other Confederate factory produced more revolvers than Griswold & Gunnison. Griswoldville was the first town burned by Sherman's troops on his march to the sea. Detailed History: This pistol was made in 1864 by enslaved laborers in the Griswold and Gunnison pistol factory located in Griswoldville, GA, about ten miles south of Macon, for use by Confederate soldiers in the American Civil War (1861–65). In 1862, when the Griswoldville factory began manufacturing pistols, its twenty-two machines were operated by twenty-four people, twenty-two of whom were enslaved. Over the course of the war, from 1862 until 1864, when the factory was destroyed in Union General William Tecumseh Sherman’s (1820–1891) March to the Sea, it produced approximately 3,700 revolvers—more than any other Confederate firearm factory. Its importance to the Confederate war effort was acknowledged by a visit from the President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis (1808–1889) in 1863, an event described in contemporary newspapers: “The President at Griswoldville. – At Griswoldville, on the Central Railroad, where the President arrived between eight and nine o’clock on Friday night, about forty negroes, laborers in Mr. Griswold’s pistol shops at that place, had collected and manifested great anxiety to see Mr. Davis. Being told of it he got off the car and went the rounds, taking each one by the hand and giving him a pleasant word.” (The Macon Telegraph, Macon, GA, Monday, Nov. 2, 1863, p. 2). Based on the Colt Model 1851 revolver, the design of the Griswold and Gunnison revolver differed from the Colt in several respects, most noticeably the grip’s rearward tilt and in the materials from which the revolver was made. The Griswold and Gunnison revolver featured a brass frame and iron components, instead of steel. The scarcity of raw materials in the South during the Civil War necessitated that the metals required for firearms production be sourced and recycled from unconventional sources, including brass church bells, which were melted down to make pistol frames of Griswold and Gunnison revolvers as well as those of other Confederate manufacturers. The Griswold and Gunnison factory was owned by Samuel Griswold (1790–1867). Originally of Burlington, CT, Griswold moved to Georgia in the 1820s, eventually establishing the town of Griswoldville on four thousand acres of land he purchased. His factory manufactured cotton gins before the War, becoming one of the largest producers of the machines in the nation. In 1862 it ceased its manufacture of cotton gins to make pikes. Later that year, the factory switched its production to pistols. The serial number on the revolver indicates it was manufactured soon before the factory was destroyed. The family information that I have will be only available to the buyer. This was purchased by me from a direct descendant. I have not confirmed ownership but there are several members of the family that served in the Civil War one of them, Philip Daingerfield Stephenson, D.D.: Private, Company K, 13th Arkansas Volunteer Infantry wrote a memoir which is available on Amazon. The family is from St. Louis, Missouri and several family members are buried there including Civil War veterans. John Sexton believes he can put a name to the revolver which will solidify the value. Condition: NRA Very Good Plus Overall The brass frame is not polished and has natural patina. The metal is covered in dark patina with some areas of light rust that cannot be cleaned without disassembly. The bore is dark and needs cleaning to see exact condition. It is hard to see without disassembly. Usually bores are not too much of a concern with antique firearms. The revolver does appear to be mechanically fine. The cylinder rotates and locks. The tigger works as it should. Markings: Cylinder - 3254 Barrel Lug - 3254 Brass Frame - 3254 / Z Base of grip - #14 Trigger Guard - #14 / XXXIIII / Z Hammer - #14 Wedge - #14 Brass Grip Frame - XXXIIII / Z Loading Lever - #14 There maybe more if it was completely disassembled. All parts appear to be original other than one of the grip frame screws maybe a replacement. This was the assessment of a well known appraiser as well. FOR MORE HIGH-QUALITY PHOTOS AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS! Email me for a link. If you want to look at it in person before you are welcome to do so. This is also listed on G u n B r o k e r - Credit Cards are accepted on . The USPS Stamps maximun of $10,000 dollars in insurance is included for free or I can ship UPS and give you a quote on insurance for the full value. I have been in business since 1997. The best way to reach me in via sending a message through Guns International or email. I am a one man show and I run my retail gun shop during the day. I rarley answer the phone. I have sold online for years but I have never listed a firearm on here . Price: $37,000.00 Buy Now Antique: Yes Handgun Caliber: .36 Manufacturer: Griswold & Gunnison Model: 1851 Navy Barrel Length: 7.5 Action: Single Manufacture Date: 1864 Item Location: Hermon, Maine Grips: Original Wood Contact Seller |
Guns International #: 102709182
Seller's Inventory #: 1
Guns International #: 102709182
Seller's Inventory #: 1