CASED INSCRIBED & ENGRAVED PAIR OF COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVERS OF CONFEDERATE GENERAL R.L. WALKER.

CASED INSCRIBED & ENGRAVED PAIR OF COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVERS OF CONFEDERATE GENERAL R.L. WALKER. SN 63590 & 93754. Cal. 36. Wonderful pair of Navys that belonged to a genuine Civil War hero & patriot of the Confederacy. These revolvers have usual configuration with 7-1/2″ oct bbls, dovetail front sights, one with Hartford address and the other with New York City address. One is a 3rd Model with small trigger guard and the other a 4th Model with large trigger guard. Both have silver plated brass trigger guard & back strap containing a 1-pc walnut grip with the 4th Model having very highly figured walnut. They are identically engraved in Gustave Young’s deluxe style with his trademark foliate arabesque patterns over the frames, bbl lugs, rammer pivots & back straps. Left side of the bbl lug on each is engraved with a most unusual man’s head with a pipe in his mouth, partially obscured by wedge screw. Tops of back straps have Mr. Young’s trademark fan with spider web pattern & engraved chip border. Left side of frames are engraved “COLT’S PATENT” in pillow shapes and sides of hammers are matching engraved with a dog’s head on each side of hammer noses. Back straps are inscribed “R.L. WALKER”. Butt straps & trigger guards are engraved in matching patterns. Accompanied by a fine orig, Colt, rosewood dbl casing not orig to this set. Although it is an orig Colt casing accompanying documentation shows that it was added in the 1960’s. Casing as noted, is of rosewood with a brass plaque in the lid and brass escutcheon for the mortised lock in front. Interior is lined in black velvet compartmented in the bottom for both revolvers, a dbl sided Navy sized eagle flask, a “COLTS PATENT” 2-cavity bullet mold with sprue cutter, a spare cylinder SN “69698”, two tins of Eley Bros. caps, a sealed packed of Sage Combustible cartridges, an L-shaped nipple wrench/screwdriver (with broken tip), a Dixon pewter oil bottle and a smaller Sykes pewter oil bottle and several spare parts, screws & nipples. Right rear compartment contains bullets & balls. This fine set was the property of Brig. Gen. Ruben Lindsey Walker of the Confederate Army. He was born in Virginia in 1828 and educated at the Virginia Military Institute as an engineer. Upon graduation he pursued a career of Civil Engineering and later farming. At the outbreak of hostilities Mr. Walker enlisted as a Captain in the Purcell Battery of Artillery of the Confederacy. In March 1862 he was promoted to Major and served as Chief of Artillery for Gen. A.P. Hill’s division. On July 3, 1862 he was promoted to Lt. Colonel and assigned to Gen. Robert E. Lee’s staff as his artillery officer. He was then promoted to Colonel on March 14, 1863. At Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, he was Chief of Artillery for the 3rd Corps and according to reports acquitted himself and his command extremely well. On March 1, 1865 he was promoted to Brig. General of Artillery. Gen. Walker fought throughout the entire Civil War, engaging in at least sixty-three major battles & engagements and was never wounded. Gen. Walker was, by all reports, an imposing and dashing figure being 6’4″ tall with long black hair, large black mustache & beard. After the war Gen. Walker returned to his engineering profession and in 1884 was Superintendent of Construction of the Texas State Capitol building, finishing the project in 1888. He died in June 1890. These revolvers are accompanied by a very large volume of research material, photographs and Gen. Walker’s military record. Among the correspondence, included are several letters between the apparent owner of this set at the time, S.P. Stevens of San Antonio, TX, and Arnold Marcus Chernoff, who had previously owned this pair. Another letter dated Nov. 1961 from Carlos Crister of Phoenix, AZ to Mr. Stevens acknowledging that he had previously owned them also. Also accompanying is a copy of a 2-page hand written from Charles W. Vogel of Phoenix, AZ wherein he states that he had sold these revolvers to Mr. Crister in 1955. He further states that he had purchased them from Walter Hastings, an old time gun collector from Michigan. He states that Mr. Hastings was collecting guns before he (Mr. Vogel) was born and that Mr. Hastings was now near 80 years old. Additionally accompanying is a copy of another letter dated Nov. 1961, Apache Junction, AZ from a Mr. Walter A. Hastings to Mr. Stevens wherein he states that he had purchased this pair from a Mr. Fred Dustin who ran a “second hand shop” in Bay City, Michigan. He further states that “about ten years ago” he sold them to Mr. Charles Vogel of Phoenix, AZ. Apparently sometime afterward these revolvers were separated by a subsequent owner and Mr. Stevens was responsible for reuniting them. Additionally accompanying is a photograph of Mr. Stevens and Mrs. Lindsay Hay Masiello, Gen. Walker’s great-granddaughter holding the cased revolvers and Mr. Stevens holding Gen. Walker’s saber that remained in the family. Another photograph is of Mrs. Masiello holding one of the revolvers in her left hand and the case with the other revolver in the other hand. Additionally accompanying are two frames containing the reprint of an article regarding these revolvers and Gen. Walker that appeared in the Texas Gun Collectors Association pamphlet from a 1960’s San Antonio meeting. PROVENANCE: S.P. Stevens; Carlos Crister; Arnold Marcus Chernoff; Walter A. Hastings; Fred Dustin; Charles Vogel. CONDITION: Number “63590” is fine to very fine, all matching including wedge, grip was not checked. Bbl retains a thin blue/brown patina, having been cleaned, with traces of orig blue in most sheltered areas. Rammer handle retains strong colors on pivot. Frame & hammer are sharp and retain most of their orig case hardening with light colors in sheltered areas. Cylinder is a gray metal patina and retains most of its hand enhanced Ormsby Naval battle scene with all six safety pins crisp. Trigger guard & back strap retain 40-50% orig silver with balance a medium to dark mustard patina. Grip is sound showing moderate to heavy wear and retains most of an old restored finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with moderate pitting. Number “93754” is equally fine, all matching including the wedge, grip was not checked. Bbl retains about 30% thin orig blue with balance a blue/gray patina. Rammer handle retains dark case colors. Frame & hammer also retain dark case colors with hammer nose slightly battered. Cylinder is a gray metal patina with some scattered nicks & dings and pitting on the front face and retains 60-70% Ormsby Naval battle scene. Trigger guard & back strap retain about 60% orig silver plating. Grip is sound with minor nicks & scratches and retains 70-75% orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, strong dark bore. Wedge has a broken spring. Case has a crack and a few grain checks in bottom and is missing the left rear corner filler, otherwise is sound with light handling & storage marks and retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is moderately faded with moderate to heavy soil in the bottom, otherwise is completely intact with all partitions solid. There is moderate damage from front sights & hammer spurs. Flask is fine with a dent in one side and retains 60-70% orig finish. Spare cylinder is fine, being a blue/brown patina and retains about 80% Ormsby Naval battle scene. Mold is very fine with a few minor dents & dings and retains most of its thin orig blue. Cartridge packet is crisp. Nipple wrench has a broken screwdriver tip, otherwise is fine. Oil bottles are fine. One cap tin is sealed, complete & orig and retains about 75-80% orig paper wrapping. Label is completely intact. Parts, screws & nipples are mostly brown patina. This is an exceptional set from a gallant & patriotic Confederate officer who served his cause extremely well. 4-37730 JR176 (25,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

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
	2050	$28,750.00	CASED INSCRIBED & ENGRAVED PAIR OF COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVERS OF CONFEDERATE GENERAL R.L. WALKER. SN 63590 & 93754. Cal. 36. Wonderful pair of Navys that belonged to a genuine Civil War hero & patriot of the Confederacy. These revolvers have usual configuration with 7-1/2″ oct bbls, dovetail front sights, one with Hartford address and the other with New York City address. One is a 3rd Model with small trigger guard and the other a 4th Model with large trigger guard. Both have silver plated brass trigger guard & back strap containing a 1-pc walnut grip with the 4th Model having very highly figured walnut. They are identically engraved in Gustave Young’s deluxe style with his trademark foliate arabesque patterns over the frames, bbl lugs, rammer pivots & back straps. Left side of the bbl lug on each is engraved with a most unusual man’s head with a pipe in his mouth, partially obscured by wedge screw. Tops of back straps have Mr. Young’s trademark fan with spider web pattern & engraved chip border. Left side of frames are engraved “COLT’S PATENT” in pillow shapes and sides of hammers are matching engraved with a dog’s head on each side of hammer noses. Back straps are inscribed “R.L. WALKER”. Butt straps & trigger guards are engraved in matching patterns. Accompanied by a fine orig, Colt, rosewood dbl casing not orig to this set. Although it is an orig Colt casing accompanying documentation shows that it was added in the 1960’s. Casing as noted, is of rosewood with a brass plaque in the lid and brass escutcheon for the mortised lock in front. Interior is lined in black velvet compartmented in the bottom for both revolvers, a dbl sided Navy sized eagle flask, a “COLTS PATENT” 2-cavity bullet mold with sprue cutter, a spare cylinder SN “69698”, two tins of Eley Bros. caps, a sealed packed of Sage Combustible cartridges, an L-shaped nipple wrench/screwdriver (with broken tip), a Dixon pewter oil bottle and a smaller Sykes pewter oil bottle and several spare parts, screws & nipples. Right rear compartment contains bullets & balls. This fine set was the property of Brig. Gen. Ruben Lindsey Walker of the Confederate Army. He was born in Virginia in 1828 and educated at the Virginia Military Institute as an engineer. Upon graduation he pursued a career of Civil Engineering and later farming. At the outbreak of hostilities Mr. Walker enlisted as a Captain in the Purcell Battery of Artillery of the Confederacy. In March 1862 he was promoted to Major and served as Chief of Artillery for Gen. A.P. Hill’s division. On July 3, 1862 he was promoted to Lt. Colonel and assigned to Gen. Robert E. Lee’s staff as his artillery officer. He was then promoted to Colonel on March 14, 1863. At Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, he was Chief of Artillery for the 3rd Corps and according to reports acquitted himself and his command extremely well. On March 1, 1865 he was promoted to Brig. General of Artillery. Gen. Walker fought throughout the entire Civil War, engaging in at least sixty-three major battles & engagements and was never wounded. Gen. Walker was, by all reports, an imposing and dashing figure being 6’4″ tall with long black hair, large black mustache & beard. After the war Gen. Walker returned to his engineering profession and in 1884 was Superintendent of Construction of the Texas State Capitol building, finishing the project in 1888. He died in June 1890. These revolvers are accompanied by a very large volume of research material, photographs and Gen. Walker’s military record. Among the correspondence, included are several letters between the apparent owner of this set at the time, S.P. Stevens of San Antonio, TX, and Arnold Marcus Chernoff, who had previously owned this pair. Another letter dated Nov. 1961 from Carlos Crister of Phoenix, AZ to Mr. Stevens acknowledging that he had previously owned them also. Also accompanying is a copy of a 2-page hand written from Charles W. Vogel of Phoenix, AZ wherein he states that he had sold these revolvers to Mr. Crister in 1955. He further states that he had purchased them from Walter Hastings, an old time gun collector from Michigan. He states that Mr. Hastings was collecting guns before he (Mr. Vogel) was born and that Mr. Hastings was now near 80 years old. Additionally accompanying is a copy of another letter dated Nov. 1961, Apache Junction, AZ from a Mr. Walter A. Hastings to Mr. Stevens wherein he states that he had purchased this pair from a Mr. Fred Dustin who ran a “second hand shop” in Bay City, Michigan. He further states that “about ten years ago” he sold them to Mr. Charles Vogel of Phoenix, AZ. Apparently sometime afterward these revolvers were separated by a subsequent owner and Mr. Stevens was responsible for reuniting them. Additionally accompanying is a photograph of Mr. Stevens and Mrs. Lindsay Hay Masiello, Gen. Walker’s great-granddaughter holding the cased revolvers and Mr. Stevens holding Gen. Walker’s saber that remained in the family. Another photograph is of Mrs. Masiello holding one of the revolvers in her left hand and the case with the other revolver in the other hand. Additionally accompanying are two frames containing the reprint of an article regarding these revolvers and Gen. Walker that appeared in the Texas Gun Collectors Association pamphlet from a 1960’s San Antonio meeting. PROVENANCE: S.P. Stevens; Carlos Crister; Arnold Marcus Chernoff; Walter A. Hastings; Fred Dustin; Charles Vogel. CONDITION: Number “63590” is fine to very fine, all matching including wedge, grip was not checked. Bbl retains a thin blue/brown patina, having been cleaned, with traces of orig blue in most sheltered areas. Rammer handle retains strong colors on pivot. Frame & hammer are sharp and retain most of their orig case hardening with light colors in sheltered areas. Cylinder is a gray metal patina and retains most of its hand enhanced Ormsby Naval battle scene with all six safety pins crisp. Trigger guard & back strap retain 40-50% orig silver with balance a medium to dark mustard patina. Grip is sound showing moderate to heavy wear and retains most of an old restored finish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with moderate pitting. Number “93754” is equally fine, all matching including the wedge, grip was not checked. Bbl retains about 30% thin orig blue with balance a blue/gray patina. Rammer handle retains dark case colors. Frame & hammer also retain dark case colors with hammer nose slightly battered. Cylinder is a gray metal patina with some scattered nicks & dings and pitting on the front face and retains 60-70% Ormsby Naval battle scene. Trigger guard & back strap retain about 60% orig silver plating. Grip is sound with minor nicks & scratches and retains 70-75% orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, strong dark bore. Wedge has a broken spring. Case has a crack and a few grain checks in bottom and is missing the left rear corner filler, otherwise is sound with light handling & storage marks and retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is moderately faded with moderate to heavy soil in the bottom, otherwise is completely intact with all partitions solid. There is moderate damage from front sights & hammer spurs. Flask is fine with a dent in one side and retains 60-70% orig finish. Spare cylinder is fine, being a blue/brown patina and retains about 80% Ormsby Naval battle scene. Mold is very fine with a few minor dents & dings and retains most of its thin orig blue. Cartridge packet is crisp. Nipple wrench has a broken screwdriver tip, otherwise is fine. Oil bottles are fine. One cap tin is sealed, complete & orig and retains about 75-80% orig paper wrapping. Label is completely intact. Parts, screws & nipples are mostly brown patina. This is an exceptional set from a gallant & patriotic Confederate officer who served his cause extremely well. 4-37730 JR176 (25,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 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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