RARE AND UNIQUE THOMAS, GRISWOLD & CO NEW ORLEANS CONFEDERATE MILITARY RIFLE.

RARE AND UNIQUE THOMAS, GRISWOLD & CO NEW ORLEANS CONFEDERATE MILITARY RIFLE. Cal. 58. 33″ bbl. This is the only known Thomas, Griswold & Company maker marked Confederate rifle. This particular specimen is extremely well made and decorated for presentation or exhibition. Thomas, Griswold & Company was a very well known manufacturer of Confederate swords. Thomas, Griswold had a large operation and many workers and his swords are among the very finest of Confederate officer’s swords. Thomas, Griswold was famous for their brass scabbarded officer’s swords of all types. Thomas, Griswold also made some of the highest grade presentation swords in silver. Thomas, Griswold had few peers in the highest grade Confederate presentations. Some of his best swords were given to high ranking Generals such as Sterling Price. That sword is now in the collection of the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia. Another high grade General sword made by this firm was presented to General Christopher Mott. Many high grade swords made by this firm are in institutions nationwide. Until discovery of this particular long arm there was no known rifle by Thomas, Griswold. In October 1861 Thomas, Griswold & Company placed classified ads seeking forgers and finishers; Said applicants to apply at “The Rifle Factory” of the subscribers on 3rd Street between Bacchus and Dryades. Between March and April 1862 Thomas, Griswold & Company placed no fewer than 6 ads for two machinists and two gunsmiths. Then New Orleans fell to Union forces. The US government, in a marshall sale, sold “The Confederate Rifle Factory” in December 1864. In a letter by Thomas, Griswold & Company, signed January 21, 1862, to General Albert Sidney Johnston they mention a contract to manufacture Enfield rifles “for our ability to fulfill our contracts we can refer you to Gen. Lovell with whom we made contracts to manufacture Enfield rifles, or to Gen. Ruggles or to Major M.L. Smith of the engineers.” Also in Confederate records is a Confederate ordnance document dated June 30, 1862 from Major Smith of the Corp of Engineers concerning the purchase of “The Rifle Factory” situated on 3rd Street between Bacchus and Dryades Streets, New Orleans. Unfortunately this rifle factory was to produce no more rifles as New Orleans was now in Union hands. Production at Thomas, Griswold & Company Confederate Rifle Factory spanned a mere few months from Autumn of 1861 to Spring of 1862. There are known unmarked Enfield rifles of this configuration that are most likely also made at the Confederate Rifle Factory of Thomas, Griswold & Company; Though earlier thought to be products of Cook & Brothers who made many Enfield rifles bearing their mark in New Orleans and later in Athens, Georgia where they moved their equipment prior to New Orlean’s fall. There are two known saber bayonets marked “Thomas, Griswold & Co, New Orleans”; so there must have been at least a few unmarked rifles manufactured. Also in Major Martin L. Smith’s papers he has a notation on February 21, 1862 of 92 Enfield rifles. There is no designation if they were Thomas, Griswold & Company’s. The extremely well made rifle we are offering here is marked on lock “Thomas, Griswold & Co/Makers.New Orleans”. The lock is beautifully engraved and chased as is the hammer and bbl tang and bolster. Engraving is very similar and most likely done by Thomas, Griswold employees once in the employee of Hyde & Goodrich of New Orleans whose firm Thomas, Griswold bought in mid 1861. Hyde and Goodrich are famous for their silver engraving chasing. Other known Confederate rifles made in New Orleans are also of this pattern and it is interesting that these brass bands and sling swivels are unique to New Orleans manufacture as they are seen nowhere else other than Cook or Thomas, Griswold & Co. This gun no doubt was made to show off the work that could be done at “The Confederate Rifle Factory.” In addition to the engraving, stock is highly polished and varnished. All brass fittings including nosecap, bbl bands, trigger guard, sling swivels, buttplate and lock escutcheons were all silver plated. Bbl is finely rifled but tapered inside at muzzle back 1″ such that a ball could easily be seated into rifling. Bbl was blued and lock and hammer were case colored. This is no doubt the single rarest of all Confederate rifles and also the most attractive. CONDITION: Gun overall is in very fine condition. Bbl retains most of its original blue finish though majority is faded and turned plum. Case colors are only visible in protected area under hammer with balance gray/silver. Brass furniture retains about 80% of original silver plating on all brass parts. Stock is sound and solid with polished furniture-like finish, retaining 95% of original varnished finish. Bore is bright, showing fine thin rifling. Accompanying Enfield ramrod matches gun fairly well but is not original to this gun. 8-76328 JS101 (75,000-125,000)

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
	2377	$92,000.00	RARE AND UNIQUE THOMAS, GRISWOLD & CO NEW ORLEANS CONFEDERATE MILITARY RIFLE. Cal. 58. 33″ bbl. This is the only known Thomas, Griswold & Company maker marked Confederate rifle. This particular specimen is extremely well made and decorated for presentation or exhibition. Thomas, Griswold & Company was a very well known manufacturer of Confederate swords. Thomas, Griswold had a large operation and many workers and his swords are among the very finest of Confederate officer’s swords. Thomas, Griswold was famous for their brass scabbarded officer’s swords of all types. Thomas, Griswold also made some of the highest grade presentation swords in silver. Thomas, Griswold had few peers in the highest grade Confederate presentations. Some of his best swords were given to high ranking Generals such as Sterling Price. That sword is now in the collection of the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia. Another high grade General sword made by this firm was presented to General Christopher Mott. Many high grade swords made by this firm are in institutions nationwide. Until discovery of this particular long arm there was no known rifle by Thomas, Griswold. In October 1861 Thomas, Griswold & Company placed classified ads seeking forgers and finishers; Said applicants to apply at “The Rifle Factory” of the subscribers on 3rd Street between Bacchus and Dryades. Between March and April 1862 Thomas, Griswold & Company placed no fewer than 6 ads for two machinists and two gunsmiths. Then New Orleans fell to Union forces. The US government, in a marshall sale, sold “The Confederate Rifle Factory” in December 1864. In a letter by Thomas, Griswold & Company, signed January 21, 1862, to General Albert Sidney Johnston they mention a contract to manufacture Enfield rifles “for our ability to fulfill our contracts we can refer you to Gen. Lovell with whom we made contracts to manufacture Enfield rifles, or to Gen. Ruggles or to Major M.L. Smith of the engineers.” Also in Confederate records is a Confederate ordnance document dated June 30, 1862 from Major Smith of the Corp of Engineers concerning the purchase of “The Rifle Factory” situated on 3rd Street between Bacchus and Dryades Streets, New Orleans. Unfortunately this rifle factory was to produce no more rifles as New Orleans was now in Union hands. Production at Thomas, Griswold & Company Confederate Rifle Factory spanned a mere few months from Autumn of 1861 to Spring of 1862. There are known unmarked Enfield rifles of this configuration that are most likely also made at the Confederate Rifle Factory of Thomas, Griswold & Company; Though earlier thought to be products of Cook & Brothers who made many Enfield rifles bearing their mark in New Orleans and later in Athens, Georgia where they moved their equipment prior to New Orlean’s fall. There are two known saber bayonets marked “Thomas, Griswold & Co, New Orleans”; so there must have been at least a few unmarked rifles manufactured. Also in Major Martin L. Smith’s papers he has a notation on February 21, 1862 of 92 Enfield rifles. There is no designation if they were Thomas, Griswold & Company’s. The extremely well made rifle we are offering here is marked on lock “Thomas, Griswold & Co/Makers.New Orleans”. The lock is beautifully engraved and chased as is the hammer and bbl tang and bolster. Engraving is very similar and most likely done by Thomas, Griswold employees once in the employee of Hyde & Goodrich of New Orleans whose firm Thomas, Griswold bought in mid 1861. Hyde and Goodrich are famous for their silver engraving chasing. Other known Confederate rifles made in New Orleans are also of this pattern and it is interesting that these brass bands and sling swivels are unique to New Orleans manufacture as they are seen nowhere else other than Cook or Thomas, Griswold & Co. This gun no doubt was made to show off the work that could be done at “The Confederate Rifle Factory.” In addition to the engraving, stock is highly polished and varnished. All brass fittings including nosecap, bbl bands, trigger guard, sling swivels, buttplate and lock escutcheons were all silver plated. Bbl is finely rifled but tapered inside at muzzle back 1″ such that a ball could easily be seated into rifling. Bbl was blued and lock and hammer were case colored. This is no doubt the single rarest of all Confederate rifles and also the most attractive. CONDITION: Gun overall is in very fine condition. Bbl retains most of its original blue finish though majority is faded and turned plum. Case colors are only visible in protected area under hammer with balance gray/silver. Brass furniture retains about 80% of original silver plating on all brass parts. Stock is sound and solid with polished furniture-like finish, retaining 95% of original varnished finish. Bore is bright, showing fine thin rifling. Accompanying Enfield ramrod matches gun fairly well but is not original to this gun. 8-76328 JS101 (75,000-125,000) 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}