HISTORIC INSCRIBED COLT SECOND MODEL DRAGOON REVOLVER INSCRIBED TO (CONFEDERATE GENERAL) JOSIAH GORGAS.

HISTORIC INSCRIBED COLT SECOND MODEL DRAGOON REVOLVER INSCRIBED TO (CONFEDERATE GENERAL) JOSIAH GORGAS. SN 9327. Cal. 44. Martially marked Second Model Colt Dragoon Revolver with 7-1/2″ oct to rnd bbl, brass triggerguard & backstrap and 1-pc walnut grip. Backstrap is inscribed in period script “To Lieut. Josiah Gorgas / From his Fellow Officers.” Josiah Gorgas was a native of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, born in 1818 and graduated from West Point in 1841. He worked in the Ordnance Corps, throughout his military career being commissioned a Lieutenant on March 3, 1847 in time to serve in the Mexican War. He served during the siege of Vera Cruz and thereafter, commanded the Ordnance Depot during Scott’s march on Mexico City. It was during this time that this historic inscribed Colt revolver was presented to him. After the Mexican War, he took charge of a number of arsenals and married the daughter of a former Governor of Alabama in 1853. Gorgas was promoted to Captain in 1855 and served in Charleston, South Carolina until 1860. Upon the opening of the Civil War he resigned his commission in the Union Army & defected to the Confederacy. President Jefferson Davis appointed him Chief of the Ordnance Department with the rank of Major. Gorgas was responsible for importing arms & ammunition from England to the Confederacy as well as utilizing captured machinery & contracting arms manufacture to a variety of contractors. He was specifically responsible for turning Richmond’s Tredegar Ironworks into an arms manufactory. Gorgas was an impressive Ordnance Chief creating an efficient department operating on limited resources and on November 19, 1864 President Davis appointed him Brigadier General. Gorgas was so efficient, in fact, that at no time was the Confederacy seriously short of armament, only the men to utilize them. Following the War, Gorgas was the superintendent of the Briarfield Ironworks and later became involved in education ultimately accepting the Presidency of the University of Alabama. Josiah Gorgas died on May 15, 1883. Gorgas’ contributions to the Confederate war effort had never been undervalued, literally turning plowshares into swords. This historic Colt revolver, obviously a valued sidearm, is one of the most important Colt revolvers to come to the open market in recent years. Accompanied by a wonderful & rare period flap holster with belt loop, built in Confederate style, especially for a dragoon. Gorgas’ career is detailed in a book, Plowshares into Swords, Van Diver, from Texas A&M University. CONDITION: Very good, all matching including grip. All metal surfaces are a deep plum/brown color with light surface pitting on the bbl & frame. No cylinder scene remains. Grip is fine with chipped toes showing moderate to heavy wear and retains 60-70% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong sharp dark bore. Holster is fine having been treated, is now soft & supple with heavily crackled surface and a couple of minor tears at base of flap. Toe shows very heavy wear, missing its plug with a tear by seam on bbl end. 4-32952 JR339 (50,000-100,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007

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
	1303	$0.00	HISTORIC INSCRIBED COLT SECOND MODEL DRAGOON REVOLVER INSCRIBED TO (CONFEDERATE GENERAL) JOSIAH GORGAS. SN 9327. Cal. 44. Martially marked Second Model Colt Dragoon Revolver with 7-1/2″ oct to rnd bbl, brass triggerguard & backstrap and 1-pc walnut grip. Backstrap is inscribed in period script “To Lieut. Josiah Gorgas / From his Fellow Officers.” Josiah Gorgas was a native of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, born in 1818 and graduated from West Point in 1841. He worked in the Ordnance Corps, throughout his military career being commissioned a Lieutenant on March 3, 1847 in time to serve in the Mexican War. He served during the siege of Vera Cruz and thereafter, commanded the Ordnance Depot during Scott’s march on Mexico City. It was during this time that this historic inscribed Colt revolver was presented to him. After the Mexican War, he took charge of a number of arsenals and married the daughter of a former Governor of Alabama in 1853. Gorgas was promoted to Captain in 1855 and served in Charleston, South Carolina until 1860. Upon the opening of the Civil War he resigned his commission in the Union Army & defected to the Confederacy. President Jefferson Davis appointed him Chief of the Ordnance Department with the rank of Major. Gorgas was responsible for importing arms & ammunition from England to the Confederacy as well as utilizing captured machinery & contracting arms manufacture to a variety of contractors. He was specifically responsible for turning Richmond’s Tredegar Ironworks into an arms manufactory. Gorgas was an impressive Ordnance Chief creating an efficient department operating on limited resources and on November 19, 1864 President Davis appointed him Brigadier General. Gorgas was so efficient, in fact, that at no time was the Confederacy seriously short of armament, only the men to utilize them. Following the War, Gorgas was the superintendent of the Briarfield Ironworks and later became involved in education ultimately accepting the Presidency of the University of Alabama. Josiah Gorgas died on May 15, 1883. Gorgas’ contributions to the Confederate war effort had never been undervalued, literally turning plowshares into swords. This historic Colt revolver, obviously a valued sidearm, is one of the most important Colt revolvers to come to the open market in recent years. Accompanied by a wonderful & rare period flap holster with belt loop, built in Confederate style, especially for a dragoon. Gorgas’ career is detailed in a book, Plowshares into Swords, Van Diver, from Texas A&M University. CONDITION: Very good, all matching including grip. All metal surfaces are a deep plum/brown color with light surface pitting on the bbl & frame. No cylinder scene remains. Grip is fine with chipped toes showing moderate to heavy wear and retains 60-70% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong sharp dark bore. Holster is fine having been treated, is now soft & supple with heavily crackled surface and a couple of minor tears at base of flap. Toe shows very heavy wear, missing its plug with a tear by seam on bbl end. 4-32952 JR339 (50,000-100,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2007 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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