EXTREMELY RARE INSCRIBED VOLCANIC PISTOL.

EXTREMELY RARE INSCRIBED VOLCANIC PISTOL. Cal. 41, SN 1080. Navy size with 8″ oct bbl and integral magazine tube. It has a German silver shaped cone front sight, fixed rear sight and two-piece walnut grips. The top flat of the bbl is marked with Volcanic Repeating Arms Company name and address with “1854” patent date. The serial number appears on the right side of the lever, the left side of the butt under the grip and inside both grips. No further disassembly was affected to verify further numbering. The left side plate is inscribed in period script and block letter engraving, “Lieut. Thos. Gardner / From / SOME OF THE ‘RANGERS’ / & / ORIGINAL ‘CROTONS’ / March 12th, 1857.” The right side plate and part of the receiver is inscribed in period engraved script and block letters, “Keep this Weapon ‘TOM’ / Never USE it in a BAD CAUSE / Never SURRENDER it in a GOOD / Remember that FREEDOM is worth more than LIFE / That FREEMEN never can be SLAVES.” Apparently, in the period pre-dating the Civil War, Gardner was a member of “The Rangers”, who surely were “free-staters” participating in the violent struggle in Kansas and Missouri during that time. Preliminary internet research disclosed that Thomas W. Gardner enlisted as a Captain in Company “G” Ohio 90th Infantry and resigned on 5/17/1863. This pistol is accompanied by Gardner’s application for pension from Civil War disability dated in 1915. It appears that he passed away in 1918 in Missouri. Also accompanied by a copy of an article from the March, 1989 issue of The Gun Report wherein there is an article on this pistol written by Mr. Hamilton. Additional, more in-depth research should produce some interesting information regarding “The Rangers” and “Crotons”. It has been suggested that the “Crotons” may have a connection to an old Ivy League school such as Yale or Harvard. CONDITION: Very good. No original finish remains with the iron being a silver, gray-brown patina. Brass frame and side plates show moderate wear with a few nicks and dings and light scratches and retains a medium to dark mustard patina. Tops of the side plates show light bruises. Follower and spring are replacements. Left grip has a replaced long sliver from the toe and the right grip escutcheon is loose in the wood. Otherwise they retain 30-50% original varnish on the left side and 15-20% on the right side. An extremely rare and important volcanic. Mechanics are a little loose but functional. Strong bright bore with fine pitting. Hamilton Collection 4-53497 JR973 (40,000-60,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2004

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
	1201D.	$40,250.00	EXTREMELY RARE INSCRIBED VOLCANIC PISTOL. Cal. 41, SN 1080. Navy size with 8″ oct bbl and integral magazine tube. It has a German silver shaped cone front sight, fixed rear sight and two-piece walnut grips. The top flat of the bbl is marked with Volcanic Repeating Arms Company name and address with “1854” patent date. The serial number appears on the right side of the lever, the left side of the butt under the grip and inside both grips. No further disassembly was affected to verify further numbering. The left side plate is inscribed in period script and block letter engraving, “Lieut. Thos. Gardner / From / SOME OF THE ‘RANGERS’ / & / ORIGINAL ‘CROTONS’ / March 12th, 1857.” The right side plate and part of the receiver is inscribed in period engraved script and block letters, “Keep this Weapon ‘TOM’ / Never USE it in a BAD CAUSE / Never SURRENDER it in a GOOD / Remember that FREEDOM is worth more than LIFE / That FREEMEN never can be SLAVES.” Apparently, in the period pre-dating the Civil War, Gardner was a member of “The Rangers”, who surely were “free-staters” participating in the violent struggle in Kansas and Missouri during that time. Preliminary internet research disclosed that Thomas W. Gardner enlisted as a Captain in Company “G” Ohio 90th Infantry and resigned on 5/17/1863. This pistol is accompanied by Gardner’s application for pension from Civil War disability dated in 1915. It appears that he passed away in 1918 in Missouri. Also accompanied by a copy of an article from the March, 1989 issue of The Gun Report wherein there is an article on this pistol written by Mr. Hamilton. Additional, more in-depth research should produce some interesting information regarding “The Rangers” and “Crotons”. It has been suggested that the “Crotons” may have a connection to an old Ivy League school such as Yale or Harvard. CONDITION: Very good. No original finish remains with the iron being a silver, gray-brown patina. Brass frame and side plates show moderate wear with a few nicks and dings and light scratches and retains a medium to dark mustard patina. Tops of the side plates show light bruises. Follower and spring are replacements. Left grip has a replaced long sliver from the toe and the right grip escutcheon is loose in the wood. Otherwise they retain 30-50% original varnish on the left side and 15-20% on the right side. An extremely rare and important volcanic. Mechanics are a little loose but functional. Strong bright bore with fine pitting. Hamilton Collection 4-53497 JR973 (40,000-60,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2004 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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