CIVIL WAR INSCRIBED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET REVOLVER.

CIVIL WAR INSCRIBED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET REVOLVER. Cal. 31. SN 144614. Possibly Confederate used revolver that has a 6″ oct bbl, 2-line New York address with silver plated back strap and trigger guard containing 1-piece walnut grips. The back strap is inscribed, in period script engraving, “Col Lewis B Parsons Captured at Arkansas / Post Jan 11, 1863”. The bottom of the butt has hand scratched initials “LV”. Preliminary internet research discloses a brief biography of Col. Lewis Baldwin Parsons (1818-1907), a graduate of Yale and Harvard and an attorney in St. Louis where he became president and treasurer of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. At the outbreak of war he became a captain and almost immediately a colonel, assigned to be in charge of railroad transportation. In May of 1865 he was promoted to Brig. General and April 1866 was brevetted Major General and honorably mustered out at that time. Research also disclosed that the Arkansas Post was also known as Fort Hindman and was apparently located at the confluence of the Arkansas & Mississippi Rivers and had been an Indian Trading Post from 1686. In 1862 the Confederacy constructed a massive earthen fortification that then became known as Fort Hindman. January 9-11, 1863 the Union Army & Navy engaged Fort Hindman with Union casualties 1,047 and Confederate casualties 5,500. While there is no immediate confirmation of Col. Parsons participation in this battle it appear likely that he was there and captured this revolver at that time. CONDITION: Good to very good, no original finish remains being a medium to dark gray/brown patina over all the iron. The bbl shows moderate to heavy wear with a spot or two of light pitting. The cylinder is lightly battered with vice marks in a couple of places and retains traces of the stagecoach holdup scene. The frame and hammer have scattered light pitting. The back strap is a mellow brass patina and the trigger guard retains about 40% thin original cylinder. The grips have a slightly chipped toe and show moderate wear, retaining about 50% original varnish. The wedge is a replacement. The hand spring is either broken or missing, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong dull bore. Hamilton Collection 4-52120 JR860 (5,000-6,000)

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
	1211	$5,750.00	CIVIL WAR INSCRIBED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET REVOLVER. Cal. 31. SN 144614. Possibly Confederate used revolver that has a 6″ oct bbl, 2-line New York address with silver plated back strap and trigger guard containing 1-piece walnut grips. The back strap is inscribed, in period script engraving, “Col Lewis B Parsons Captured at Arkansas / Post Jan 11, 1863”. The bottom of the butt has hand scratched initials “LV”. Preliminary internet research discloses a brief biography of Col. Lewis Baldwin Parsons (1818-1907), a graduate of Yale and Harvard and an attorney in St. Louis where he became president and treasurer of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. At the outbreak of war he became a captain and almost immediately a colonel, assigned to be in charge of railroad transportation. In May of 1865 he was promoted to Brig. General and April 1866 was brevetted Major General and honorably mustered out at that time. Research also disclosed that the Arkansas Post was also known as Fort Hindman and was apparently located at the confluence of the Arkansas & Mississippi Rivers and had been an Indian Trading Post from 1686. In 1862 the Confederacy constructed a massive earthen fortification that then became known as Fort Hindman. January 9-11, 1863 the Union Army & Navy engaged Fort Hindman with Union casualties 1,047 and Confederate casualties 5,500. While there is no immediate confirmation of Col. Parsons participation in this battle it appear likely that he was there and captured this revolver at that time. CONDITION: Good to very good, no original finish remains being a medium to dark gray/brown patina over all the iron. The bbl shows moderate to heavy wear with a spot or two of light pitting. The cylinder is lightly battered with vice marks in a couple of places and retains traces of the stagecoach holdup scene. The frame and hammer have scattered light pitting. The back strap is a mellow brass patina and the trigger guard retains about 40% thin original cylinder. The grips have a slightly chipped toe and show moderate wear, retaining about 50% original varnish. The wedge is a replacement. The hand spring is either broken or missing, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong dull bore. Hamilton Collection 4-52120 JR860 (5,000-6,000) 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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