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EXTREMELY RARE (1 of only 2 examples known to

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:87,500.00 USD Estimated At:175,000.00 - 275,000.00 USD
EXTREMELY RARE (1 of only 2 examples known to
exist) CONFEDERATE COFER PATENT CARTRIDGE PERCUSSION REVOLVER. Cal. 36. S# 7. This is unquestionably one of the very rarest, if not the rarest, Confederate handgun known. In fact, it is the only Confederate firearm ever patented, “Patent #9” which was granted August 12th, 1861 to Thomas W. Cofer of Portsmouth, Virginia. The patent was for this very gun & this unique pistol described in his patent has a unique 2 piece cylinder utilizing a specially made percussion cartridge. This rare example has a top strap marked in two lines “T.W. Cofers Patent/August 1861”. Apparently Cofer sold at least 17 revolvers to the Confederate government as noted by a January 18th, 1862 receipt & these were most likely issues to the 5th Virginia Cavalry. “#7” is stamped on the brass butt strap of the grip frame. Bbl. marked in a single line “Portsmouth, VA”. To our knowledge, there are only two of these extraordinarily rare & unique Confederate pistols known to currently exist. This one, by far, is the best example. However, it is not perfect. The gun is currently complete & includes two superb replica cartridges. These unique cartridges, which have a nipple on the back to hold the percussion cap, are one of the rarest cartridges extent. This example, as indicated, is by far the better of the two surviving examples & features original finish, an unusual feature w/ most genuine Confederate pistols. Most Confederate pistols lack hardly any finish at all because of the tremendous amount of use, this example however has plenty of finish which is in part due to the catastrophic failure which apparently occurred during the period of use when the gun was fired on some occasion, it broke the frame & blew off the bbl. This rare revolver was beautifully restored by pioneer Confederate collector, Burkley Lewis, over 50 years ago. The restoration is excellent & very difficult to discern & displays extremely well. Restoration with most collectable guns is not desirable but w/ Confederate handguns, it is well know, that the majority of them are either in poor condition or, in many cases, have had some degree of restoration. In some cases, very minor restoration while some guns have major restoration. It is exceedingly rare to find an excellent example of any Confederate revolver. When one measures the rarity, the uniqueness & desirability of this extremely important firearms & how well it presents, it is unquestionably highly desirable. There are only two examples of this ultimate Confederate rarity & even though restored, it is the better of the two survivors for completeness & condition. This revolver is highly important & has outstanding pedigree in regards to its collection history having been part of several of the finest Confederate arms collections in America until its current offering. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: there is a large file accompanying this gun showing the history & provenance. NOTE: We know of a third Cofer cartridge revolver but it is not a martial gun, it is smaller in size and is NOT the one described in Cofers patent. CONDITION: fine overall, as restored. There are illustrations that exist on the gun before it was restored that depict the original damage. The restoration includes some work on the front of the frame, as well as the bbl. restoration. Mechanically in fine order with pitted dark rifle bore. Checkered grips have 2 old insert repairs, moderate age wear & hand worn patina. This is without question the rarest of Confederate issued revolvers extent. PROVENANCE: Burton D. Munhall (1910-1997) collection. Ordnance and ballistics engineer “Burt” Munhall from the age of 10 collected ammunition cartridges that would ultimately amass to one of the largest in the world and serve as the basis for numerous books and reference materials. Miles W. Standish (1894-1967) collection 1947. National authority on rare firearms and 9th lineal descendent of 17th century pilgrim Capt. Myles Standish. Colonel Berkeley R. Lewis (1904-1972) collection. Colonel Lewis was a career Army Ordnance officer, researcher and author of Small Arms and Ammunition in the United States Service among other titles. Fred D. Slaton, Nebo, KY, legendary Confederate arms collection (1922-1997), acquired about 1970. LITERATURE: Pictured and described (unrestored) in American Rifleman, “The Cofer Revolver” by Burton D. Munhall (pages 30-32), August 1950. Pictured and described (unrestored) “Confederate Arms” by Albaugh/Simmons 1957. Pictured and described (unrestored) “Confederate Handguns” by Albaugh/Simmons (pages 23-24) 1963. Pictured and described (restored) “Confederate Longarms and Pistols – A Pictorial Study” by Anthony & Hill (page 275) 1978. Pictured and described (restored) “Confederate Revolvers” by William Gary (pages 142-147) 1987. Pictured and described “The Legacy of a Tidewater Gunsmith – Thomas W. Cofer” by M. Clifford Young, ASAC bulletin 72, May 3-7, 1995. (01-17383/JS). ANTIQUE. $175,000-275,000.