VERY FINE & RARE CONFEDERATE DANCE REVOLVER.

SN 243. Cal. 44. James Henry Dance and his brothers, originally members of the 35th Texas Cavalry, somehow were allowed to have detached service making revolvers in Columbia, TX, later moving in December of 1863 to Anderson, TX when the operation was sold to the Confederate government. These Dance dragoons are copies of Colt Model 1848 dragoon pistols popular in Texas frontier prior to war. Of the approximate 100 Dance pistols that survive, about 85 are 44 Cal. SN 243 is found on all major parts including bbl, left side of loading arm, cylinder, frame, hammer, wedge, trigger guard and backstrap. Overall edges are sharp. Action is tight and functional. This gun by NRA standards grades good-very good. By Confederate standards this gun is quite fine with crisp edges, traces of finish and well defined bore. Dance revolvers saw hard Confederate use, mostly in the Western and Trans-Mississippi theaters of the war. Any Texas Confederate soldier would be proud to carry a Texas made revolver of the highest quality. Gun appears to be orig and authentic as used and is above average of most encountered specimens. All screws, cones, sights and internal parts appear orig, even though the wedge screw and latch appear as war time modifications. This is a beautiful gun that surfaced in an estate sale in Houston, TX in 2003, and at that time became the 82nd known Dance dragoon. Texan collectors have kept lists of Dance revolvers since the 1940’s and the survival and history of this manufacturer is better known than any other Confederate arms maker. PROVENANCE: Houston Texas Estate, 2003; Mike Clark, Houston, TX, 2003; Lifetime Collection of Dr. Zack Catterton, 2003. CONDITION: Gun is overall very good, complete and orig with only repair noted of the bbl latch which appears orig to revolver’s time of use along with contemporary wedge screw, both have matching patina and surface to rest of gun. Iron surfaces are overall mottled brown/grey with tiny traces of finish in protected areas with scattered staining and pitting. SNs are all crisp & well-defined. Cylinder retains 5 partial safety pins with crisp, well-defined perimeter line at front edge. Gun does appear “as found” with no restoration since the Civil War. There is a break in the trigger bow and there is a cracked break right ear of backstrap that do not affect aesthetics. Mechanically gun has good action and crisp rifling in bore. Grips are very good, well fit with considerable edge wear and some erosion on left side exhibiting good hand worn patina. Letters of authenticity accompany, one from noted Confederate revolver expert, Fred Edmunds. 51566-4 JS (40,000-60,000) – Lot 1200

Click here to view provenance

Auction: Firearms - April 2017

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1200	$46,000.00	VERY FINE & RARE CONFEDERATE DANCE REVOLVER. SN 243. Cal. 44. James Henry Dance and his brothers, originally members of the 35th Texas Cavalry, somehow were allowed to have detached service making revolvers in Columbia, TX, later moving in December of 1863 to Anderson, TX when the operation was sold to the Confederate government. These Dance dragoons are copies of Colt Model 1848 dragoon pistols popular in Texas frontier prior to war. Of the approximate 100 Dance pistols that survive, about 85 are 44 Cal. SN 243 is found on all major parts including bbl, left side of loading arm, cylinder, frame, hammer, wedge, trigger guard and backstrap. Overall edges are sharp. Action is tight and functional. This gun by NRA standards grades good-very good. By Confederate standards this gun is quite fine with crisp edges, traces of finish and well defined bore. Dance revolvers saw hard Confederate use, mostly in the Western and Trans-Mississippi theaters of the war. Any Texas Confederate soldier would be proud to carry a Texas made revolver of the highest quality. Gun appears to be orig and authentic as used and is above average of most encountered specimens. All screws, cones, sights and internal parts appear orig, even though the wedge screw and latch appear as war time modifications. This is a beautiful gun that surfaced in an estate sale in Houston, TX in 2003, and at that time became the 82nd known Dance dragoon. Texan collectors have kept lists of Dance revolvers since the 1940’s and the survival and history of this manufacturer is better known than any other Confederate arms maker. PROVENANCE: Houston Texas Estate, 2003; Mike Clark, Houston, TX, 2003; Lifetime Collection of Dr. Zack Catterton, 2003. CONDITION: Gun is overall very good, complete and orig with only repair noted of the bbl latch which appears orig to revolver’s time of use along with contemporary wedge screw, both have matching patina and surface to rest of gun. Iron surfaces are overall mottled brown/grey with tiny traces of finish in protected areas with scattered staining and pitting. SNs are all crisp & well-defined. Cylinder retains 5 partial safety pins with crisp, well-defined perimeter line at front edge. Gun does appear “as found” with no restoration since the Civil War. There is a break in the trigger bow and there is a cracked break right ear of backstrap that do not affect aesthetics. Mechanically gun has good action and crisp rifling in bore. Grips are very good, well fit with considerable edge wear and some erosion on left side exhibiting good hand worn patina. Letters of authenticity accompany, one from noted Confederate revolver expert, Fred Edmunds. 51566-4 JS (40,000-60,000) – Lot 1200 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - April 2017 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}

VERY FINE & RARE CONFEDERATE DANCE REVOLVER.