MATCHED PAIR OF PRESENTATION ENGRAVED COLT NAVY REVOLVERS TO COL. OF THE 5TH OHIO CALVARY.

MATCHED PAIR OF PRESENTATION ENGRAVED COLT NAVY REVOLVERS TO COL. OF THE 5TH OHIO CALVARY. SN 100896/93332. Cal. 36. Both guns bear an inscription “Col. WHH Taylor/From his Cincinnati Friends, 1861”. Though SN’s are about 7000 apart, the inscriptions on backstraps are both in the same hand and both guns appear to be factory engraved, and the two guns date late 1860 or very early 1861 both with Hartford addresses on bbls. The earlier gun SN93332 appears typical of Gustave Young’s shop. The second gun is engraved very similar in style and coverage though obviously done at a different time because motifs and hands are different as can be seen in pictures, but the year difference in manufacturing may account for this. The lower SN gun retains traces of original bright blue finish whereas the later gun shows more use and only tiny traces of finish in protected areas, though engraving is still crisp but only 80% cylinder scene is easily discernible. Ivory stocks appear original and fit both guns well. These guns have a very interesting history and are being offered by direct family descent of Col. Taylor. In a March, 1956 Gun Report article, SN100896 is pictured on pg. 21. The author quotes in this article “Col Taylor, my great-grandfather, was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1813, and was the grandson of Benjamin Harrison, “the signer”. Col. Taylor commanded the 5th Ohio Cavalry regiment during the Civil War. When the regiment left Ohio, some of Col. Taylor’s friends presented him with a pair of Colt Navy revolvers and a set of saddle holsters. The fortunes of war carried Col. Taylor to Louisiana, and during this period the revolvers were stolen from him. After the war Col. Taylor returned North where he recounted his experiences to members of the family, including my father. Col. Taylor later moved from Cleves, Ohio, to Minnesota, where he was state librarian for seventeen years. He died in February, 1894, at St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1895 my father received a letter from a woman then living in the Arizona Territory, asking him if he were related to the late Col. Taylor. Apparently this woman had read of Col. Taylor’s death or had become aware of it in some manner. Father replied that he was Col. Taylor’s grandson. After an exchange of correspondence the woman sent to my father the revolver illustrated. All efforts to learn the circumstances under which the woman had required the revolver, or if she had its mate, were fruitless.” Both guns appear complete with all matching SN’s with exception of wedge on the lower numbered gun, which is unnumbered. The ivory stocks on these guns are very well fit and only one was removed and it has an ink matching SN internally under backstrap. The Fifth Ohio Cavalry was a hard-fought unit being recruited originally around Cincinnati, OH. Col. Taylor, a farmer and former postmaster of Cincinnati, his only military qualification being his kinship to Gen. William Henry Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe, and later President of the United States. Early action of the 5th Cavalry was at Corinth, Mississippi and western Tennessee. The regiment engaged Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, December 18, 1862 and like other units, sent out to intercept him, were easily repelled with many casualties. Col. Taylor resigned his commission August 11, 1863 and returned home. Also included in this grouping are numerous family objects concerning lineage of President William Henry Harrison and President Benjamin Harrison. This is a wonderful set of original ivory stocked, factory engraved, Colt Navy revolvers in fine, “as found” condition. CONDITION: SN93332 is fine overall. Metal is brown with areas of original blue finish, especially in protected areas. Engraving is crisp as are markings. Cylinder scene is complete and discernible. Safety pins are worn but still discernible. Trigger guard and backstrap retain about 80% of silver finish. Stocks are complete with a couple age cracks expected on old ivory. SN100896 is very good overall. Overall brown with traces of blue finish in protected areas. Engraving overall is all discernible. There is a broken ear that is missing on the left side of loading arm below screw as can be seen in photos. Silver plating on backstrap and trigger guard is only present in small areas in protected areas. Ivory stocks are sound and solid exhibiting one 1/2″ cut to right stock and age cracking as is typical to old ivory. Both guns are mechanically fine and function well. 4-42403 JS17 (12,500-25,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	2120	$23,000.00	MATCHED PAIR OF PRESENTATION ENGRAVED COLT NAVY REVOLVERS TO COL. OF THE 5TH OHIO CALVARY. SN 100896/93332. Cal. 36. Both guns bear an inscription “Col. WHH Taylor/From his Cincinnati Friends, 1861”. Though SN’s are about 7000 apart, the inscriptions on backstraps are both in the same hand and both guns appear to be factory engraved, and the two guns date late 1860 or very early 1861 both with Hartford addresses on bbls. The earlier gun SN93332 appears typical of Gustave Young’s shop. The second gun is engraved very similar in style and coverage though obviously done at a different time because motifs and hands are different as can be seen in pictures, but the year difference in manufacturing may account for this. The lower SN gun retains traces of original bright blue finish whereas the later gun shows more use and only tiny traces of finish in protected areas, though engraving is still crisp but only 80% cylinder scene is easily discernible. Ivory stocks appear original and fit both guns well. These guns have a very interesting history and are being offered by direct family descent of Col. Taylor. In a March, 1956 Gun Report article, SN100896 is pictured on pg. 21. The author quotes in this article “Col Taylor, my great-grandfather, was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1813, and was the grandson of Benjamin Harrison, “the signer”. Col. Taylor commanded the 5th Ohio Cavalry regiment during the Civil War. When the regiment left Ohio, some of Col. Taylor’s friends presented him with a pair of Colt Navy revolvers and a set of saddle holsters. The fortunes of war carried Col. Taylor to Louisiana, and during this period the revolvers were stolen from him. After the war Col. Taylor returned North where he recounted his experiences to members of the family, including my father. Col. Taylor later moved from Cleves, Ohio, to Minnesota, where he was state librarian for seventeen years. He died in February, 1894, at St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1895 my father received a letter from a woman then living in the Arizona Territory, asking him if he were related to the late Col. Taylor. Apparently this woman had read of Col. Taylor’s death or had become aware of it in some manner. Father replied that he was Col. Taylor’s grandson. After an exchange of correspondence the woman sent to my father the revolver illustrated. All efforts to learn the circumstances under which the woman had required the revolver, or if she had its mate, were fruitless.” Both guns appear complete with all matching SN’s with exception of wedge on the lower numbered gun, which is unnumbered. The ivory stocks on these guns are very well fit and only one was removed and it has an ink matching SN internally under backstrap. The Fifth Ohio Cavalry was a hard-fought unit being recruited originally around Cincinnati, OH. Col. Taylor, a farmer and former postmaster of Cincinnati, his only military qualification being his kinship to Gen. William Henry Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe, and later President of the United States. Early action of the 5th Cavalry was at Corinth, Mississippi and western Tennessee. The regiment engaged Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, December 18, 1862 and like other units, sent out to intercept him, were easily repelled with many casualties. Col. Taylor resigned his commission August 11, 1863 and returned home. Also included in this grouping are numerous family objects concerning lineage of President William Henry Harrison and President Benjamin Harrison. This is a wonderful set of original ivory stocked, factory engraved, Colt Navy revolvers in fine, “as found” condition. CONDITION: SN93332 is fine overall. Metal is brown with areas of original blue finish, especially in protected areas. Engraving is crisp as are markings. Cylinder scene is complete and discernible. Safety pins are worn but still discernible. Trigger guard and backstrap retain about 80% of silver finish. Stocks are complete with a couple age cracks expected on old ivory. SN100896 is very good overall. Overall brown with traces of blue finish in protected areas. Engraving overall is all discernible. There is a broken ear that is missing on the left side of loading arm below screw as can be seen in photos. Silver plating on backstrap and trigger guard is only present in small areas in protected areas. Ivory stocks are sound and solid exhibiting one 1/2″ cut to right stock and age cracking as is typical to old ivory. Both guns are mechanically fine and function well. 4-42403 JS17 (12,500-25,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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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