RARE INSCRIBED, GOLD INLAID COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE REVOLVER WITH CONFEDERATE NAVAL OFFICER HISTORY.

RARE INSCRIBED, GOLD INLAID COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE REVOLVER WITH CONFEDERATE NAVAL OFFICER HISTORY. SN 10126. Cal. 36. Blue & color case hardened with 5-1/2″ rnd bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has a tiny “COLTS PATENT” and left shoulder of trigger guard is stamped with caliber marking. Silver plated brass trigger guard & backstrap contain an incredible 1-pc ivory grip, raise carved on left side with the figures of David decapitating Goliath, symbolizing the Confederacy defeating the Union. Revolver is period of use inlaid with a dbl gold wire band at the cyl end of the bbl lug and a sgl gold band around the muzzle. Cyl has a continuous gold wire band just in the rebated area with gold wire inlays on the shoulder between nipple recesses. Backstrap is inscribed in period script, during the period of use, “Lieut. A. Sinclair. CSN.” and is filled with black enamel. SN was observed in the usual places on the bbl lug, frame, trigger guard & buttstrap with last four digits on the wedge & cyl spindle. Grip screws could not be removed so grip was not examined internally. Cyl is battered on rear face and any SNs were obliterated. Accompanied by a period of use, altered Slim-Jim holster that fits this revolver fine with about 1-1/2″ of the bbl exposed. Such short holsters were traditional with the Navy to allow water to drain through and for more rapid drying. Holster is left hand with belt loop secured with large copper harness rivets and the face is very nicely tooled in foliate patterns with punch dot background. Edge is nicely sewn with a border decoration. This being a left hand holster corresponds with the left hand grip of the revolver. Also accompanied by three books about the Civil War Confederate gun boat “C.S.S. Alabama”. 1) Two Years on the Alabama, Arthur Sinclair, Lieutenant, CSN (who owned the revolver being sold here); 2) Cruise of a Corsair, Warren Armstrong; 3) Here Comes the Alabama, Edna & Frank Bradlow. Arthur Sinclair, IV was born in Norfolk, VA, 5 May 1837, the son of a serving U.S. Naval officer. He went to sea with his father in the 1850s and served until the outbreak of the Civil War when both he and his father resigned from the U.S. Naval Service and enlisted in the Confederate Navy. Arthur Sinclair became a 5th Lieutenant and served on the ironclad C.S.S. Virginia during her battle with the U.S.S. Monitor. In August of 1862 he was assigned to the C.S.S. Alabama under Capt. Rafael Semmes. He served continuously from 1862 to 1864 with the Alabama during her enormously destructive raids on Union shipping, capturing or destroying over 100 Union vessels in that short period of time. The Alabama was constructed in England and during her entire lifetime never touched a port in America. On 14 June 1864 the Alabama had laid into the harbor at Cherbourg for repairs and refitting when she was discovered by the U.S.S. Kearsarge. Upon being discovered Capt. Semmes issued a challenge to the captain of the Kearsarge that he would be ready for a fight in a few days when repairs were completed. On 19 June 1864 Capt. Semmes put the Alabama to sea where she was engaged by the Kearsarge about 7 miles offshore and during the one-hour and ten minute battle was sunk. The Kearsarge and a French boat rescued some of the crew with about 40 of the crew, including Lt. Sinclair and most of the officers, being rescued by the English yacht “Deerhound”. They were transported to Southampton, England where they were received with some acclaim after initially being refused admittance to a hotel due to their disreputable appearance and poor dress. Lt. Sinclair spent several months on leave in London after which he was detailed to the cruiser C.S.S. Texas being built in Scotland. However, before she was completed Gen. Lee had surrendered and Lt. Sinclair returned to America to Baltimore where he spent the remainder of his life as a merchant. Undoubtedly it was during Lt. Sinclair’s sojourn in England that his Colt was inscribed and very likely the grip was created for it. This revolver and holster were previously sold as Lot 521 in Bonham’s Arms & Armor Sale, date unknown. CONDITION: About fine, all matching except cyl which number is obliterated and grip which was not checked. Bbl retains 50-60% glossy orig blue with balance flaked to a medium patina with one small chemical spot. Frame & hammer retain 60-70% faded case colors turned gray on recoil shields and with a casting flaw in the right side. Cyl retains 30-40% thin orig blue, mostly in the flutes, with the balance flaked to a light patina. Trigger guard retains strong silver on front strap, thin on trigger plate and trigger bow. Backstrap & buttstrap retain about 85% strong orig silver. Grip shows moderate edge wear with a few minor chips in the edge and retains a wonderful golden ivory patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. Holster is very fine, retaining most of its orig shiny black finish with some light crackling. Books are all fine. 4-41969 JR263 (25,000-35,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	2405	$34,500.00	RARE INSCRIBED, GOLD INLAID COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE REVOLVER WITH CONFEDERATE NAVAL OFFICER HISTORY. SN 10126. Cal. 36. Blue & color case hardened with 5-1/2″ rnd bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has a tiny “COLTS PATENT” and left shoulder of trigger guard is stamped with caliber marking. Silver plated brass trigger guard & backstrap contain an incredible 1-pc ivory grip, raise carved on left side with the figures of David decapitating Goliath, symbolizing the Confederacy defeating the Union. Revolver is period of use inlaid with a dbl gold wire band at the cyl end of the bbl lug and a sgl gold band around the muzzle. Cyl has a continuous gold wire band just in the rebated area with gold wire inlays on the shoulder between nipple recesses. Backstrap is inscribed in period script, during the period of use, “Lieut. A. Sinclair. CSN.” and is filled with black enamel. SN was observed in the usual places on the bbl lug, frame, trigger guard & buttstrap with last four digits on the wedge & cyl spindle. Grip screws could not be removed so grip was not examined internally. Cyl is battered on rear face and any SNs were obliterated. Accompanied by a period of use, altered Slim-Jim holster that fits this revolver fine with about 1-1/2″ of the bbl exposed. Such short holsters were traditional with the Navy to allow water to drain through and for more rapid drying. Holster is left hand with belt loop secured with large copper harness rivets and the face is very nicely tooled in foliate patterns with punch dot background. Edge is nicely sewn with a border decoration. This being a left hand holster corresponds with the left hand grip of the revolver. Also accompanied by three books about the Civil War Confederate gun boat “C.S.S. Alabama”. 1) Two Years on the Alabama, Arthur Sinclair, Lieutenant, CSN (who owned the revolver being sold here); 2) Cruise of a Corsair, Warren Armstrong; 3) Here Comes the Alabama, Edna & Frank Bradlow. Arthur Sinclair, IV was born in Norfolk, VA, 5 May 1837, the son of a serving U.S. Naval officer. He went to sea with his father in the 1850s and served until the outbreak of the Civil War when both he and his father resigned from the U.S. Naval Service and enlisted in the Confederate Navy. Arthur Sinclair became a 5th Lieutenant and served on the ironclad C.S.S. Virginia during her battle with the U.S.S. Monitor. In August of 1862 he was assigned to the C.S.S. Alabama under Capt. Rafael Semmes. He served continuously from 1862 to 1864 with the Alabama during her enormously destructive raids on Union shipping, capturing or destroying over 100 Union vessels in that short period of time. The Alabama was constructed in England and during her entire lifetime never touched a port in America. On 14 June 1864 the Alabama had laid into the harbor at Cherbourg for repairs and refitting when she was discovered by the U.S.S. Kearsarge. Upon being discovered Capt. Semmes issued a challenge to the captain of the Kearsarge that he would be ready for a fight in a few days when repairs were completed. On 19 June 1864 Capt. Semmes put the Alabama to sea where she was engaged by the Kearsarge about 7 miles offshore and during the one-hour and ten minute battle was sunk. The Kearsarge and a French boat rescued some of the crew with about 40 of the crew, including Lt. Sinclair and most of the officers, being rescued by the English yacht “Deerhound”. They were transported to Southampton, England where they were received with some acclaim after initially being refused admittance to a hotel due to their disreputable appearance and poor dress. Lt. Sinclair spent several months on leave in London after which he was detailed to the cruiser C.S.S. Texas being built in Scotland. However, before she was completed Gen. Lee had surrendered and Lt. Sinclair returned to America to Baltimore where he spent the remainder of his life as a merchant. Undoubtedly it was during Lt. Sinclair’s sojourn in England that his Colt was inscribed and very likely the grip was created for it. This revolver and holster were previously sold as Lot 521 in Bonham’s Arms & Armor Sale, date unknown. CONDITION: About fine, all matching except cyl which number is obliterated and grip which was not checked. Bbl retains 50-60% glossy orig blue with balance flaked to a medium patina with one small chemical spot. Frame & hammer retain 60-70% faded case colors turned gray on recoil shields and with a casting flaw in the right side. Cyl retains 30-40% thin orig blue, mostly in the flutes, with the balance flaked to a light patina. Trigger guard retains strong silver on front strap, thin on trigger plate and trigger bow. Backstrap & buttstrap retain about 85% strong orig silver. Grip shows moderate edge wear with a few minor chips in the edge and retains a wonderful golden ivory patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. Holster is very fine, retaining most of its orig shiny black finish with some light crackling. Books are all fine. 4-41969 JR263 (25,000-35,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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