RARE CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION COLT 1860 ARMY REVOLVER, STATE OF VA.

Revised: 9/14/2011

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This is the only known State of Virginia Colt presentation during the Civil War. According to Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson, in his notes, believes D.T. Williams to have been an employee of Peter Williams & Co. In actuality, he was a partner in firm of Williams, Peters & Co. This was verified by research in Man at Arms 12/08 article entitled “Traitor or Capitalist?”, which pointed out error in Colt factory records as to company name.

The date of presentation of this gun is the day after the confiscation of a shipment of 500 Colt revolvers at the Adam’s Express office in Richmond on April 21st “by the State authorities”.

Included with this gun is the Man at Arms article, which illuminates this particular specimen as representing an important group of early 1860 armies shipped to Colt’s southern dealers, many which burst their cylinders and were replaced at the factory with new, unfluted cylinders with correct serial numbers stamped on replacements. A large amount of research material including original letter from General Anderson, letters from Mr. Wilson, noted historians and by several prominent dealers and collectors concerning this gun as well as correspondence from family descendent. All SN’s match with SN on cyl may be re-struck as noted in article .A most important and unique Civil War and Confederate presentation.

RARE CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION COLT 1860 ARMY REVOLVER, STATE OF VA. SN 224. Cal. 44. This is a very early Colt Model 1860 army revolver with 7-1/2″ bbl and non-fluted cyl having an inscription that reads “Presented to D.T. Williams by the State of Virginia, April 22, 1861”. This gun appears all original and matching, exhibiting a full cylinder scene and strong traces of finish. Early Colts that saw confederate service generally are well used and very worn. This gun has seen use but was well cared for and is in excellent condition considering its history. The last guns shipped by Colt to the South according to Colt records were 500 guns shipped to Peter Williams & Co., Richmond, VA, April 15, 1861, due to the firing that day on Fort Sumter. According to Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson, this is the only known State of Virginia Colt presentation during the Civil War. Mr. Wilson, in his notes, believes D.T. Williams to have been an employee of Peter Williams & Co. David Terry (D.T.) Williams was a prominent commission merchant in the City of Richmond during the Civil War period with offices located at 5 Shockoe Slip. Mr. Williams lived on South Third Street, in an area known as Gamble’s Hill, and his widow continued living there until the turn of the century. The date of presentation of this gun is of interest since April 22nd was the day on which the Legislature of Virginia was considering the appointment of Robert E. Lee as commanding general of military forces in the State of Virginia. A number of matters were recorded on April 23rd including in regard to the confiscation of the 500 Colt revolvers. Mr. Williams was born February 18, 1828, had two brothers, one who was Capt. Samuel Williams, killed in action November 27, 1863. Mr. William’s father, Thomas Terry Williams, was killed by one of his slaves when David was seven years old. David was a member of the banking firm Williams, Peters & Co., Richmond, VA from 1861 to 1863 when he became the sole proprietor and president. D.T. Williams enlisted July 1, 1863 as a member of the First Virginia State Reserves. He entered as a private and was promoted to Sergeant. This unit saw service guarding prisoners at Belle Isle. Williams and his unit saw action during the siege of Petersburg. After the war, David had become a member of Williams, Johnson & Co. and established the Manufacturer’s Tobacco Exchange, at which time he was associated at the time of his death, May 21, 1873. David was buried in Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery, which is the resting place of five American presidents, Jefferson Davis, and 10,000 Confederate soldiers. Also included with this lot is a letter written from Tredegar Iron Works to Colt requesting new model army pistols such as the one here. This letter is signed by J.R. Anderson who headed up the Tredegar Iron Works and was later to be a confederate general. Included with this gun is a large amount of research material including letters by several prominent dealers and collectors concerning this gun. CONDITION: Very good overall. Metal is gray/brown with scattered dings, dents and pitting. There are traces of finish, especially in protected areas at bottom of bbl. Cyl scene is almost complete only being partially obscured by scattered pitting. Markings are fine and well defined though edges of bottom of address are only partially struck. All SN’s match though SN on cyl may be re-struck. Backstrap and trigger guard retain 50-60% of their original silver wash. Stocks retain 70-80% of their original varnish though scuffed and worn in high areas. There are numerous small dents in butt of right stock where gun was apparently used as tack hammer. 4-42400 JS15 (30,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	2131	$0.00	Revised: 9/14/2011 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This is the only known State of Virginia Colt presentation during the Civil War. According to Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson, in his notes, believes D.T. Williams to have been an employee of Peter Williams & Co. In actuality, he was a partner in firm of Williams, Peters & Co. This was verified by research in Man at Arms 12/08 article entitled “Traitor or Capitalist?”, which pointed out error in Colt factory records as to company name. The date of presentation of this gun is the day after the confiscation of a shipment of 500 Colt revolvers at the Adam’s Express office in Richmond on April 21st “by the State authorities”. Included with this gun is the Man at Arms article, which illuminates this particular specimen as representing an important group of early 1860 armies shipped to Colt’s southern dealers, many which burst their cylinders and were replaced at the factory with new, unfluted cylinders with correct serial numbers stamped on replacements. A large amount of research material including original letter from General Anderson, letters from Mr. Wilson, noted historians and by several prominent dealers and collectors concerning this gun as well as correspondence from family descendent. All SN’s match with SN on cyl may be re-struck as noted in article .A most important and unique Civil War and Confederate presentation. RARE CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION COLT 1860 ARMY REVOLVER, STATE OF VA. SN 224. Cal. 44. This is a very early Colt Model 1860 army revolver with 7-1/2″ bbl and non-fluted cyl having an inscription that reads “Presented to D.T. Williams by the State of Virginia, April 22, 1861”. This gun appears all original and matching, exhibiting a full cylinder scene and strong traces of finish. Early Colts that saw confederate service generally are well used and very worn. This gun has seen use but was well cared for and is in excellent condition considering its history. The last guns shipped by Colt to the South according to Colt records were 500 guns shipped to Peter Williams & Co., Richmond, VA, April 15, 1861, due to the firing that day on Fort Sumter. According to Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson, this is the only known State of Virginia Colt presentation during the Civil War. Mr. Wilson, in his notes, believes D.T. Williams to have been an employee of Peter Williams & Co. David Terry (D.T.) Williams was a prominent commission merchant in the City of Richmond during the Civil War period with offices located at 5 Shockoe Slip. Mr. Williams lived on South Third Street, in an area known as Gamble’s Hill, and his widow continued living there until the turn of the century. The date of presentation of this gun is of interest since April 22nd was the day on which the Legislature of Virginia was considering the appointment of Robert E. Lee as commanding general of military forces in the State of Virginia. A number of matters were recorded on April 23rd including in regard to the confiscation of the 500 Colt revolvers. Mr. Williams was born February 18, 1828, had two brothers, one who was Capt. Samuel Williams, killed in action November 27, 1863. Mr. William’s father, Thomas Terry Williams, was killed by one of his slaves when David was seven years old. David was a member of the banking firm Williams, Peters & Co., Richmond, VA from 1861 to 1863 when he became the sole proprietor and president. D.T. Williams enlisted July 1, 1863 as a member of the First Virginia State Reserves. He entered as a private and was promoted to Sergeant. This unit saw service guarding prisoners at Belle Isle. Williams and his unit saw action during the siege of Petersburg. After the war, David had become a member of Williams, Johnson & Co. and established the Manufacturer’s Tobacco Exchange, at which time he was associated at the time of his death, May 21, 1873. David was buried in Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery, which is the resting place of five American presidents, Jefferson Davis, and 10,000 Confederate soldiers. Also included with this lot is a letter written from Tredegar Iron Works to Colt requesting new model army pistols such as the one here. This letter is signed by J.R. Anderson who headed up the Tredegar Iron Works and was later to be a confederate general. Included with this gun is a large amount of research material including letters by several prominent dealers and collectors concerning this gun. CONDITION: Very good overall. Metal is gray/brown with scattered dings, dents and pitting. There are traces of finish, especially in protected areas at bottom of bbl. Cyl scene is almost complete only being partially obscured by scattered pitting. Markings are fine and well defined though edges of bottom of address are only partially struck. All SN’s match though SN on cyl may be re-struck. Backstrap and trigger guard retain 50-60% of their original silver wash. Stocks retain 70-80% of their original varnish though scuffed and worn in high areas. There are numerous small dents in butt of right stock where gun was apparently used as tack hammer. 4-42400 JS15 (30,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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.

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