CONFEDERATE USED GRISWOLD & GUNNISON PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

CONFEDERATE USED GRISWOLD & GUNNISON PERCUSSION REVOLVER. Cal. 36. SN 1355. Scarce type with 7-1/2″ rnd bbl with round top bbl lug. It has a brass pin front sight, full brass frame with brass grip frame & 1-pc walnut grip. Right side of the front strap, under the grip, has the assembly number “A5” along with another assembly number “XII”. The “A” appears on the right rear edge of the frame under the grip, right side of the buttstrap under the grip & on the back of the cylinder. Sub-assembly number “XII” appears on the left side of the buttstrap under the grip. A sgl “5” is stamped on the wedge, rammer handle & bottom right edge of the grip. Entire serial number appears on the bottom of the bbl lug, forward end of the frame & on the cylinder. Cylinder has all six safety pins prominent. Accompanied by a hand written letter dated 2-23-83 addressed to a Mr. Edwards stating that the writer’s great-grandfather, John C. Cate of Niota, TN was apparently the orig owner of this revolver. He apparently enlisted at Knoxville, TN in the Confederate Army & was allegedly at the siege of Vicksburg & later involved with the Confederate Post Office at Knoxville. One of his descendants, Thoms Cate, died in the 1960’s at a very advanced age and the revolver & holster, along with some swords, came into the writer’s possession. Consignor states that the letter was written by Richard Cate a long time friend and direct descendent of John C. Cate. Also accompanying is a lengthy Master’s Thesis written by Deborah B. Lowry in 1999 regarding a very well known house in the East Tennessee area where this revolver & holster were allegedly discovered. This Thesis, in the introduction, relates a visit to the home of Mrs. Anna Cate in Madisonville, TN, known as the Stickley Mansion. Additionally accompanying is a brown leather flap holster stamped on the flap “AUGUSTA ARSENAL/GA” with the visible numbers “86”, probably part of a date in the 1860’s. Back edge of the holster stitching has apparently deteriorated and is now laced with a rough buck stitch with some string stitching near the top. Orig belt loop is missing with belt loop having been cut in the back. Repaired a couple of different times with string & rawhide, now dry rotted & broken again. CONDITION: Fine. No orig finish remains with the iron being a cleaned silver/gray patina with traces of orig blue on the left side of the bbl lug & some dark case colors on the rammer pivot. There is an area of pitting around the muzzle & the muzzle edge shows substantial wear. Cylinder is clean & bright with striation marks & a couple of flaws in the metal & light pitting around the rear edge. Frame & grip frame have light casting flaws, especially on the right side and overall retain a cleaned brass patina, now beginning to patinate. Grips are sound with a filled knothole on the right side & show considerable wear with a fine hand patina. Mechanics are fine, the hammer spring a little soft & the cylinder a loose on the pivot. Bore is strong with some shine & pitting in the grooves. Altogether a fine & rare Griswold in better than average condition. Holster is dry & crackled with damage to the back side and two worn through spots near the tip. Stamping on the flap is almost all legible. 4-57435 JR678 (22,500-32,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005

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
	3113	$26,450.00	CONFEDERATE USED GRISWOLD & GUNNISON PERCUSSION REVOLVER. Cal. 36. SN 1355. Scarce type with 7-1/2″ rnd bbl with round top bbl lug. It has a brass pin front sight, full brass frame with brass grip frame & 1-pc walnut grip. Right side of the front strap, under the grip, has the assembly number “A5” along with another assembly number “XII”. The “A” appears on the right rear edge of the frame under the grip, right side of the buttstrap under the grip & on the back of the cylinder. Sub-assembly number “XII” appears on the left side of the buttstrap under the grip. A sgl “5” is stamped on the wedge, rammer handle & bottom right edge of the grip. Entire serial number appears on the bottom of the bbl lug, forward end of the frame & on the cylinder. Cylinder has all six safety pins prominent. Accompanied by a hand written letter dated 2-23-83 addressed to a Mr. Edwards stating that the writer’s great-grandfather, John C. Cate of Niota, TN was apparently the orig owner of this revolver. He apparently enlisted at Knoxville, TN in the Confederate Army & was allegedly at the siege of Vicksburg & later involved with the Confederate Post Office at Knoxville. One of his descendants, Thoms Cate, died in the 1960’s at a very advanced age and the revolver & holster, along with some swords, came into the writer’s possession. Consignor states that the letter was written by Richard Cate a long time friend and direct descendent of John C. Cate. Also accompanying is a lengthy Master’s Thesis written by Deborah B. Lowry in 1999 regarding a very well known house in the East Tennessee area where this revolver & holster were allegedly discovered. This Thesis, in the introduction, relates a visit to the home of Mrs. Anna Cate in Madisonville, TN, known as the Stickley Mansion. Additionally accompanying is a brown leather flap holster stamped on the flap “AUGUSTA ARSENAL/GA” with the visible numbers “86”, probably part of a date in the 1860’s. Back edge of the holster stitching has apparently deteriorated and is now laced with a rough buck stitch with some string stitching near the top. Orig belt loop is missing with belt loop having been cut in the back. Repaired a couple of different times with string & rawhide, now dry rotted & broken again. CONDITION: Fine. No orig finish remains with the iron being a cleaned silver/gray patina with traces of orig blue on the left side of the bbl lug & some dark case colors on the rammer pivot. There is an area of pitting around the muzzle & the muzzle edge shows substantial wear. Cylinder is clean & bright with striation marks & a couple of flaws in the metal & light pitting around the rear edge. Frame & grip frame have light casting flaws, especially on the right side and overall retain a cleaned brass patina, now beginning to patinate. Grips are sound with a filled knothole on the right side & show considerable wear with a fine hand patina. Mechanics are fine, the hammer spring a little soft & the cylinder a loose on the pivot. Bore is strong with some shine & pitting in the grooves. Altogether a fine & rare Griswold in better than average condition. Holster is dry & crackled with damage to the back side and two worn through spots near the tip. Stamping on the flap is almost all legible. 4-57435 JR678 (22,500-32,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005 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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