UNIQUE “G ERICHSON, HOUSTON, TEXAS” DANCE DRAGOON REVOLVER.

SN JB. This is the only documented and accepted Dance Army with recoil shields, though we know there were 8 Dance Navy’s with recoil shields. This gun is quite famous and fake copies of it have been known for many years. Bill Gary in his text Confederate Revolvers, 1987, properly describes and pictures this unique rarity on pgs. 68-71. . . “As for the .44-caliber revolvers, there is one known specimen that meets all the criteria for guns made at the Dance factory. All measurements are correct and the rifling in the bore is correct. The gun has a full octagonal barrel and barrel housing lug; the trigger guard is square-back, semi-rectangular in shape and cast of heavy gauge brass identical to standard Dance examples. It does not have a serial number, but it is stamped with J B where serial numbers would ordinarily be found.”. . “The top of the barrel is stamped G. Erichson, Houston, Texas. Gustav Erichson was a gun dealer in Houston during the Civil War and is known to have stamped his name on derringers and some rifles. Since the Dance factory at Columbus was only 35 miles from Houston, it is very probable that Erichson could have purchased this revolver from Dance and then stamped his own name on it.”. . “The Otto and Alec Erichson listed as workers assigned to the Dance factory were sons of Gustav Erichson. Two workers were assigned to the factory with the initials “J.B.” They were Joseph Bray and J. Black, both members of Brown’s Regiment. Either man could have stamped his initials on the revolver in place of a serial number.” Though Dance Army revolvers with recoil shields are extremely rare they no doubt made very few and this is only known documented example in this cataloger’s opinion. PROVENANCE: Norm Flayderman catalog #104, November 1980, item # 2052A: Bob Owens Collection; Pictured and described in William Gary’s “Confederate Revolvers,” pgs. 68-71, 1987; Donald Tharpe Collection; Pictured in Texas Gun Trade, by Steve Hirsch, pg. 48, 2004; Don & Kathlee Bryan Collection. CONDITION: Very good to fine overall. Gun appears 100% original and complete, including the distinct Dance screws with pointed ends that don’t interchange well with other guns. There are only a few other Dance Army revolvers known with oct bbls. A well known example is SN 172 found on the cover of the book “Dance & Brothers, Texas Gunmakers of the Confederacy.” JB is stamped only on butt and arbor. The only deviations that JB installed on this more deluxe Dance were buckhorn dovetailed sights identical to that found on SN 51 Dance Navy, possibly dating this gun to about the same time of manufacture. The accompanying holster fits the gun well with restored finial and several crack and glued repairs, cracking, flaking, belt loop is sound and intact. 50122-3 JS (60,000-80,000) – Lot 2205

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Auction: Firearms - March 2016

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
	2205	$80,500.00	UNIQUE “G ERICHSON, HOUSTON, TEXAS” DANCE DRAGOON REVOLVER. SN JB. This is the only documented and accepted Dance Army with recoil shields, though we know there were 8 Dance Navy’s with recoil shields. This gun is quite famous and fake copies of it have been known for many years. Bill Gary in his text Confederate Revolvers, 1987, properly describes and pictures this unique rarity on pgs. 68-71. . . “As for the .44-caliber revolvers, there is one known specimen that meets all the criteria for guns made at the Dance factory. All measurements are correct and the rifling in the bore is correct. The gun has a full octagonal barrel and barrel housing lug; the trigger guard is square-back, semi-rectangular in shape and cast of heavy gauge brass identical to standard Dance examples. It does not have a serial number, but it is stamped with J B where serial numbers would ordinarily be found.”. . “The top of the barrel is stamped G. Erichson, Houston, Texas. Gustav Erichson was a gun dealer in Houston during the Civil War and is known to have stamped his name on derringers and some rifles. Since the Dance factory at Columbus was only 35 miles from Houston, it is very probable that Erichson could have purchased this revolver from Dance and then stamped his own name on it.”. . “The Otto and Alec Erichson listed as workers assigned to the Dance factory were sons of Gustav Erichson. Two workers were assigned to the factory with the initials “J.B.” They were Joseph Bray and J. Black, both members of Brown’s Regiment. Either man could have stamped his initials on the revolver in place of a serial number.” Though Dance Army revolvers with recoil shields are extremely rare they no doubt made very few and this is only known documented example in this cataloger’s opinion. PROVENANCE: Norm Flayderman catalog #104, November 1980, item # 2052A: Bob Owens Collection; Pictured and described in William Gary’s “Confederate Revolvers,” pgs. 68-71, 1987; Donald Tharpe Collection; Pictured in Texas Gun Trade, by Steve Hirsch, pg. 48, 2004; Don & Kathlee Bryan Collection. CONDITION: Very good to fine overall. Gun appears 100% original and complete, including the distinct Dance screws with pointed ends that don’t interchange well with other guns. There are only a few other Dance Army revolvers known with oct bbls. A well known example is SN 172 found on the cover of the book “Dance & Brothers, Texas Gunmakers of the Confederacy.” JB is stamped only on butt and arbor. The only deviations that JB installed on this more deluxe Dance were buckhorn dovetailed sights identical to that found on SN 51 Dance Navy, possibly dating this gun to about the same time of manufacture. The accompanying holster fits the gun well with restored finial and several crack and glued repairs, cracking, flaking, belt loop is sound and intact. 50122-3 JS (60,000-80,000) – Lot 2205 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2016 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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UNIQUE “G ERICHSON, HOUSTON, TEXAS” DANCE DRAGOON REVOLVER.