RARE EARLY PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER.

RARE EARLY PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER. Cal. 44. SN 7118. Usual configuration with 8″ round bbl, German silver front sight, rebated, unfluted cylinder with Ormsby Naval battle scene, iron back strap with silver-plated brass trigger guard and 1-piece walnut grips. It has 4-screw frame, cut for shoulder stock with flat head hammer screw and slightly extended stock screws. The front strap is inscribed in period engraved script & block letters “Gen’l. Wm. Nelson. to W.T. SCOTT.” Preliminary Internet research disclosed that William Nelson had entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman in 1840, commanded a battery at the Siege of Vera Cruz in the Mexican War and later served in the Mediterranean. He worked his way up through the ranks and in 1858 was the commander of the “Niagra” which is the ship that carried African natives back to Africa when they were removed from the slave ship “Echo”. In early 1861 he was promoted to Lt. Commander and put in charge of gunboats on the Ohio River. After a successful recruiting campaign in Kentucky & Tennessee he was appointed Brig. General of volunteers in the Union Army. He fought in several major battles thereafter and was promoted to Maj. General July 17, 1862. On Sept. 29, 1862 he was involved in an altercation with Brig. General Jefferson Columbus Davis (a Union General), and was killed by Davis. Up until the time of Nelson’s death it appears that William T. Scott was his Adjutant in the Kentucky 3rd Infantry. Scott enlisted July 13, 1862 as a Lt. Colonel and was promoted the same day to Full Colonel. This preliminary search did not disclose any additional information regarding the relationship between Nelson & Scott but Scott was mustered out of service on December 7, 1862 only a little over two months after Nelson’s murder. Gen. Davis was arrested and jailed but never tried for the murder, was later released and fought with some distinction throughout the rest of the war.

Another area of research disclosed that Nelson was a giant of a man, reportedly 6’4″ tall and weighed in excess of 300 lbs. He was reportedly a strict disciplinarian and widely disliked by his subordinates and fellow officers. This revolver was the subject of part of an episode of the TV show Antiques Road Show. The consignor states they have a calendar and a board game in which this revolver is specifically mentioned. These items will be available to the purchaser.

CONDITION: Fine. All matching including the wedge, no original finish remains being a smooth, even, cleaned silver metal color overall with scattered spots of light pitting on the bbl and light pitting on the hammer nose. Trigger guard retains about 70% original silver-plating and is missing one screw. Grips are modern replacements and have light nicks and scratches and retain most of their fine varnish finish. Cylinder retains 30-40% Naval battle scene. Hammer will not hold at full cock and half cock is weak. Strong bright bore with scattered pitting. 4-53590 JR1060 (4,000-7,000)

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
	1328A.	$14,375.00	RARE EARLY PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER. Cal. 44. SN 7118. Usual configuration with 8″ round bbl, German silver front sight, rebated, unfluted cylinder with Ormsby Naval battle scene, iron back strap with silver-plated brass trigger guard and 1-piece walnut grips. It has 4-screw frame, cut for shoulder stock with flat head hammer screw and slightly extended stock screws. The front strap is inscribed in period engraved script & block letters “Gen’l. Wm. Nelson. to W.T. SCOTT.” Preliminary Internet research disclosed that William Nelson had entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman in 1840, commanded a battery at the Siege of Vera Cruz in the Mexican War and later served in the Mediterranean. He worked his way up through the ranks and in 1858 was the commander of the “Niagra” which is the ship that carried African natives back to Africa when they were removed from the slave ship “Echo”. In early 1861 he was promoted to Lt. Commander and put in charge of gunboats on the Ohio River. After a successful recruiting campaign in Kentucky & Tennessee he was appointed Brig. General of volunteers in the Union Army. He fought in several major battles thereafter and was promoted to Maj. General July 17, 1862. On Sept. 29, 1862 he was involved in an altercation with Brig. General Jefferson Columbus Davis (a Union General), and was killed by Davis. Up until the time of Nelson’s death it appears that William T. Scott was his Adjutant in the Kentucky 3rd Infantry. Scott enlisted July 13, 1862 as a Lt. Colonel and was promoted the same day to Full Colonel. This preliminary search did not disclose any additional information regarding the relationship between Nelson & Scott but Scott was mustered out of service on December 7, 1862 only a little over two months after Nelson’s murder. Gen. Davis was arrested and jailed but never tried for the murder, was later released and fought with some distinction throughout the rest of the war. Another area of research disclosed that Nelson was a giant of a man, reportedly 6’4″ tall and weighed in excess of 300 lbs. He was reportedly a strict disciplinarian and widely disliked by his subordinates and fellow officers. This revolver was the subject of part of an episode of the TV show Antiques Road Show. The consignor states they have a calendar and a board game in which this revolver is specifically mentioned. These items will be available to the purchaser. CONDITION: Fine. All matching including the wedge, no original finish remains being a smooth, even, cleaned silver metal color overall with scattered spots of light pitting on the bbl and light pitting on the hammer nose. Trigger guard retains about 70% original silver-plating and is missing one screw. Grips are modern replacements and have light nicks and scratches and retain most of their fine varnish finish. Cylinder retains 30-40% Naval battle scene. Hammer will not hold at full cock and half cock is weak. Strong bright bore with scattered pitting. 4-53590 JR1060 (4,000-7,000) 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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