RARE CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION COLT 1860 ARMY REVOLVER, STATE OF VA.

Revised: 3/9/2012

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Cylinder numbers may be restruck.

RARE CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION COLT 1860 ARMY REVOLVER, STATE OF VA. SN 224. Cal. 44. This is a very early Colt Model 1860 Army revolver with 7-1/2″ bbl and non-fluted cylinder. According to Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson on this revolver which was included in The Book of Colt Engraving, this is THE ONLY KNOWN STATE OF VA.PRESENTATION DURING THE CIVIL WAR. Backstrap carries an inscription that reads “Presented to D.T. Williams by the State of Virginia, April 22, 1861”. Mr. Wilson, in his original notes, believed D.T. Williams to have been an employee of Peter Williams & Co. of Richmond, Va. In actuality, he was a partner in firm of Williams, Peters & Co. who most likely was an agent contracted to procure a number of Colt revolvers for the “new” Confederacy. This was verified by research in Man at Arms 12/08 article entitled “Traitor or Capitalist?”, which pointed out error in Colt factory records as to company name). The date of presentation of this gun is the day after the confiscation of a shipment of 500 Colt revolvers at the Adam’s Express office in Richmond on April 21st “by the State authorities” (as documented in the Richmond Examiner newspaper). Included with this gun is the same Man at Arms article,which illuminates this particular specimen “ as representing an important group of early 1860 armies shipped to Colt’s southern dealers, many which burst their cylinders and (as Sam Colt documents) “we will repair or replace”… and were replaced at the factory with new, unfluted cylinders with correct serial numbers stamped on replacements.by Colt factory. A large amount of research material including with this lot highlighted by a RARE ORIGINAL letter from General J.R.Anderson, owner of the famed Tredegar Ironworks in Richmond (cannon foundry to the Confederacy) to Samuel Colt requesting confirmation of prices for “500 New Model Army pistols”. This specimen was one of the 500 pistols confiscated by the Confederate authorities then returned to General Anderson by the State of Virginia. Letters from Mr. Wilson, noted historians including John Parsons and several prominent dealers and collectors including Herb Glass, Sr. concerning this gun are included as well as correspondence from family descendent of the recipient of this revolver. Early Colts that saw confederate service generally are well used and very worn. This gun has seen use but was well cared for and is in excellent condition considering its history. The last guns shipped by Colt to the South according to Colt records were 500 guns shipped to Peter Williams & Co., Richmond, VA, April 15, 1861. Due to the firing that day on Fort Sumter all shipments stopped after this date. According to Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson, this is the only known State of Virginia Colt presentation during the Civil War. Mr.Wilson, in his notes, believes D.T. Williams to have been an employee of Peter Williams & Co. David Terry (D.T.) Williams was a prominent commission merchant in the City of Richmond during the Civil War period with offices located at 5 Shockoe Slip. Mr. Williams lived on South Third Street, in an area known as Gamble’s Hill, and his widow continued living there until the turn of the century. The date of presentation of this gun is of interest since April 22nd was the day on which the Legislature of Virginia was considering the appointment of Robert E. Lee as commanding general of military forces in the State of Virginia. A number of matters were recorded on April 23rd including in regard to the confiscation of the 500 Colt revolvers. Mr. Williams was born February 18, 1828, had two brothers, one who was Capt. Samuel Williams, killed in action November 27, 1863. Mr. William’s father, Thomas Terry Williams, was killed by one of his slaves when David was seven years old. David was a member of the banking firm Williams, Peters & Co., Richmond, VA from 1861 to 1863 when he became the sole proprietor and president. During this same period he enlisted July 1, 1863 as a member of the First Virginia State Reserves. He entered as a private and was promoted to Sergeant. This unit saw service guarding prisoners at Belle Isle. Williams and his unit saw action during the siege of Petersburg. He also commanded militia within the City of Richmond during the war. After the war, David had become a member of Williams, Johnson & Co. and established the Manufacturer’s Tobacco Exchange, at which time he was associated at the time of his death, May 21, 1873. David was buried in Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery, which is the resting place of five American presidents, Jefferson Davis, and 10,000 Confederate soldiers. A most historically important and unique Civil War and Confederate presentation revolver with original Tredegar Ironworks letter tied together by research in Man at Arms article to an apparent Confederate agent illuminating a select group of early Colt revolvers shipped to Richmond three days after the war began. Copies of article available upon request. CONDITION: Very good overall. Metal is gray/brown with scattered dings, dents and pitting. There are traces of finish, especially in protected areas at bottom of bbl. Cyl scene is almost complete only being partially obscured by scattered pitting. Markings are fine and well defined though edges of bottom of address are only partially struck. All SN’s match though SN on cyl may be re-struck (in Colt factory as noted in article). Backstrap and trigger guard retain 50-60% of their original silver wash. Stocks retain 70-80% of their original varnish though scuffed and worn in high areas. There are numerous small dents in butt of right stock where gun was apparently used as tack hammer. 4-42400 (25,000-35,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2253	$34,500.00	Revised: 3/9/2012 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Cylinder numbers may be restruck. RARE CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION COLT 1860 ARMY REVOLVER, STATE OF VA. SN 224. Cal. 44. This is a very early Colt Model 1860 Army revolver with 7-1/2″ bbl and non-fluted cylinder. According to Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson on this revolver which was included in The Book of Colt Engraving, this is THE ONLY KNOWN STATE OF VA.PRESENTATION DURING THE CIVIL WAR. Backstrap carries an inscription that reads “Presented to D.T. Williams by the State of Virginia, April 22, 1861”. Mr. Wilson, in his original notes, believed D.T. Williams to have been an employee of Peter Williams & Co. of Richmond, Va. In actuality, he was a partner in firm of Williams, Peters & Co. who most likely was an agent contracted to procure a number of Colt revolvers for the “new” Confederacy. This was verified by research in Man at Arms 12/08 article entitled “Traitor or Capitalist?”, which pointed out error in Colt factory records as to company name). The date of presentation of this gun is the day after the confiscation of a shipment of 500 Colt revolvers at the Adam’s Express office in Richmond on April 21st “by the State authorities” (as documented in the Richmond Examiner newspaper). Included with this gun is the same Man at Arms article,which illuminates this particular specimen “ as representing an important group of early 1860 armies shipped to Colt’s southern dealers, many which burst their cylinders and (as Sam Colt documents) “we will repair or replace”… and were replaced at the factory with new, unfluted cylinders with correct serial numbers stamped on replacements.by Colt factory. A large amount of research material including with this lot highlighted by a RARE ORIGINAL letter from General J.R.Anderson, owner of the famed Tredegar Ironworks in Richmond (cannon foundry to the Confederacy) to Samuel Colt requesting confirmation of prices for “500 New Model Army pistols”. This specimen was one of the 500 pistols confiscated by the Confederate authorities then returned to General Anderson by the State of Virginia. Letters from Mr. Wilson, noted historians including John Parsons and several prominent dealers and collectors including Herb Glass, Sr. concerning this gun are included as well as correspondence from family descendent of the recipient of this revolver. Early Colts that saw confederate service generally are well used and very worn. This gun has seen use but was well cared for and is in excellent condition considering its history. The last guns shipped by Colt to the South according to Colt records were 500 guns shipped to Peter Williams & Co., Richmond, VA, April 15, 1861. Due to the firing that day on Fort Sumter all shipments stopped after this date. According to Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson, this is the only known State of Virginia Colt presentation during the Civil War. Mr.Wilson, in his notes, believes D.T. Williams to have been an employee of Peter Williams & Co. David Terry (D.T.) Williams was a prominent commission merchant in the City of Richmond during the Civil War period with offices located at 5 Shockoe Slip. Mr. Williams lived on South Third Street, in an area known as Gamble’s Hill, and his widow continued living there until the turn of the century. The date of presentation of this gun is of interest since April 22nd was the day on which the Legislature of Virginia was considering the appointment of Robert E. Lee as commanding general of military forces in the State of Virginia. A number of matters were recorded on April 23rd including in regard to the confiscation of the 500 Colt revolvers. Mr. Williams was born February 18, 1828, had two brothers, one who was Capt. Samuel Williams, killed in action November 27, 1863. Mr. William’s father, Thomas Terry Williams, was killed by one of his slaves when David was seven years old. David was a member of the banking firm Williams, Peters & Co., Richmond, VA from 1861 to 1863 when he became the sole proprietor and president. During this same period he enlisted July 1, 1863 as a member of the First Virginia State Reserves. He entered as a private and was promoted to Sergeant. This unit saw service guarding prisoners at Belle Isle. Williams and his unit saw action during the siege of Petersburg. He also commanded militia within the City of Richmond during the war. After the war, David had become a member of Williams, Johnson & Co. and established the Manufacturer’s Tobacco Exchange, at which time he was associated at the time of his death, May 21, 1873. David was buried in Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery, which is the resting place of five American presidents, Jefferson Davis, and 10,000 Confederate soldiers. A most historically important and unique Civil War and Confederate presentation revolver with original Tredegar Ironworks letter tied together by research in Man at Arms article to an apparent Confederate agent illuminating a select group of early Colt revolvers shipped to Richmond three days after the war began. Copies of article available upon request. CONDITION: Very good overall. Metal is gray/brown with scattered dings, dents and pitting. There are traces of finish, especially in protected areas at bottom of bbl. Cyl scene is almost complete only being partially obscured by scattered pitting. Markings are fine and well defined though edges of bottom of address are only partially struck. All SN’s match though SN on cyl may be re-struck (in Colt factory as noted in article). Backstrap and trigger guard retain 50-60% of their original silver wash. Stocks retain 70-80% of their original varnish though scuffed and worn in high areas. There are numerous small dents in butt of right stock where gun was apparently used as tack hammer. 4-42400 (25,000-35,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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