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HISTORIC CASED PAIR COLT POCKET REVOLVERS CAPTURED

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
HISTORIC CASED PAIR COLT POCKET REVOLVERS CAPTURED

ON CONFEDERATE BLOCKADE RUNNER “ARMSTRONG”.
Cal. .31. S#’s 191677, 191869. There is not another Colt factory cased pair of revolvers known captured from blockade runner. This 1861 manufactured pair retain most of their original blue & case colored finish along w/ contemporary inked tag: "Case of Revolvers/ taken from cabin of Rebel Blockade Runner "Armstrong" by U.S.S. "R.R Cuyler"” with a pasted number “14”. This is the kind of tags seen in public displays of captured Confederate arms such as the Metropolitan Fair in New York. The “Armstrong” was captured December 4, 1864 by 3 US ships: RR Cuyler, Gettysburg, and Mackinaw. Armstrong was taken to New York where cargo of cotton was sold. Over $250,000 prize was shared by the capturing crews. The Armstong, only built earlier in 1864, had already made 5 successful runs from Britain to the Confederacy before capture when attempting to bring cargo of cotton back to England.

Mahogany case is fitted for pair of 6” barrel model 1849 pocket revolvers, flask, mold, & cap tin. Standard configuration of Colt model 1849 revolvers w/ most desirable long barrels having one-line New York address. Both guns factory letter shipped to Grubb, Philadelphia. There are other Grubb shipped Colts in 1861 that made their way to Confederates!UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Colt factory letter. Also, large notebook of documents, essay, copy photographs, and other research material concerning capture of Armstrong and prize court information of USS RR Cuyler, receipts, etc. CONDITION: very fine overall. All matching SNs. Wedge on 191677 is not numbered, 19689 loading lever is not numbered. Both guns retain most original finish, scattered light salt & pepper pitting. 191677 has splotchy “water stained” loss of blue to barrel, 90% case colors, most silver plate remains, factory varnish grips virtually all intact. Stagecoach holdup cylinder scenes crisp. Mechanically fine, bright rifled bores. Casing is fine internally, warped lid with crack, double eagle flask, brass 2-cavity mold, and cap tin with label are matching fine condition. PROVENANCE: Norm Flayderman catalog #66; Stephen Bashaw collection 1968; Arnold Marcus Chernoff; Bill Myers collection 1975. (01-20930&01-20931/JS). ANTIQUE. $8,000-12,000.