EXTREMELY RARE DANCE CONFEDERATE DRAGOON-SIZE PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

EXTREMELY RARE DANCE CONFEDERATE DRAGOON-SIZE PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 48. Cal. 44. Usual configuration with 8″ oct to rnd bbl, low blade front sight and 6-shot cylinder with six safety pins. Frame is typical of Dance Revolvers, with completely flat sides, without recoil shields. Hammer is Colt Dragoon-style with coarse serrated spur. Trigger guard & back strap are brass and contain a 1-pc, nicely figured walnut grip. Bore has seven conventional lands & grooves with right hand gain twist. SN was observed on the bbl lug, rammer handle, cylinder, cyl arbor, frame, twice on trigger guard, on the butt strap and hammer. Wedge appears to be replaced and is unnumbered. Accompanied by a Dance Bros. brass 2-cavity 44 caliber mold with iron sprue cutter. One cavity is round ball and the other a picket ball style bullet. Sprue cutter screw is broken. Also accompanied by a 44 cal. round ball with notation on the small plastic case “.44 cal. Rd. ball dug from Anderson Tx. Dance Factory.” Dance Brothers’ revolvers were produced by the J.H. Dance & Brothers Co. of West Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas. In 1862, with the Civil War in full conflict, the Confederacy was desperate for arms of any type and since the Dance Brothers already had an operating metal working shop, the Governor of Texas exempted the brothers and their employees from military service, to allow them to continue producing revolvers, although the oldest brother, James Henry Dance, enlisted and apparently was killed. The remaining brothers continued operation and although never having received a contract from the Confederacy, produced a limited number of revolvers in both 44 & 36 caliber. Apparently in 1863, fearing that the Union Navy was about to make a foray up the Brazos River to shell the plant, the brothers moved the operation about 3 miles inland. They never resumed production of revolvers. No production records exist, however several publications indicate that their total production was approx. 350 revolvers of which a majority were in caliber 44. Few of these revolvers survive today in any condition and to find one in nearly complete orig condition is a great rarity. This particular gun is pictured in Gary Wiggins Dance & Brothers: Texas Gunmakers of the Confederacy; pages 46-47. Serial Number 48 is an interesting number and that there is also a Dance Navy known with the same serial number. The repeating serial numbers for Army and Navy is possibly only seen in this gun. PROVENANCE: Fred B. McDonald Estate Collection. CONDITION: About good, no orig finish remains. Bbl retains a thin silver/brown patina with the front sight heavily modified. Rammer & handle are a dark mottled patina. Frame & hammer are a cleaned silver/gray patina with light surface rust. Cylinder is a dark attic patina with one area of heavy pitting, probably from laying in a holster. Brass trigger guard & back strap are a dark coffee colored patina with reasonable good edges showing light wear. Grip has a chipped left toe with light handling & use marks and retains most of an old refinish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate pitting. Mold is heavily worn with moderate to heavy dings all over, slightly bent handles and retains a dark mustard patina. Sprue cutter is a dark brown patina with moderate rust. Bullet is oxidized. 4-41414 JR96 (40,000-50,000)

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
	2406	$60,375.00	EXTREMELY RARE DANCE CONFEDERATE DRAGOON-SIZE PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 48. Cal. 44. Usual configuration with 8″ oct to rnd bbl, low blade front sight and 6-shot cylinder with six safety pins. Frame is typical of Dance Revolvers, with completely flat sides, without recoil shields. Hammer is Colt Dragoon-style with coarse serrated spur. Trigger guard & back strap are brass and contain a 1-pc, nicely figured walnut grip. Bore has seven conventional lands & grooves with right hand gain twist. SN was observed on the bbl lug, rammer handle, cylinder, cyl arbor, frame, twice on trigger guard, on the butt strap and hammer. Wedge appears to be replaced and is unnumbered. Accompanied by a Dance Bros. brass 2-cavity 44 caliber mold with iron sprue cutter. One cavity is round ball and the other a picket ball style bullet. Sprue cutter screw is broken. Also accompanied by a 44 cal. round ball with notation on the small plastic case “.44 cal. Rd. ball dug from Anderson Tx. Dance Factory.” Dance Brothers’ revolvers were produced by the J.H. Dance & Brothers Co. of West Columbia, Brazoria County, Texas. In 1862, with the Civil War in full conflict, the Confederacy was desperate for arms of any type and since the Dance Brothers already had an operating metal working shop, the Governor of Texas exempted the brothers and their employees from military service, to allow them to continue producing revolvers, although the oldest brother, James Henry Dance, enlisted and apparently was killed. The remaining brothers continued operation and although never having received a contract from the Confederacy, produced a limited number of revolvers in both 44 & 36 caliber. Apparently in 1863, fearing that the Union Navy was about to make a foray up the Brazos River to shell the plant, the brothers moved the operation about 3 miles inland. They never resumed production of revolvers. No production records exist, however several publications indicate that their total production was approx. 350 revolvers of which a majority were in caliber 44. Few of these revolvers survive today in any condition and to find one in nearly complete orig condition is a great rarity. This particular gun is pictured in Gary Wiggins Dance & Brothers: Texas Gunmakers of the Confederacy; pages 46-47. Serial Number 48 is an interesting number and that there is also a Dance Navy known with the same serial number. The repeating serial numbers for Army and Navy is possibly only seen in this gun. PROVENANCE: Fred B. McDonald Estate Collection. CONDITION: About good, no orig finish remains. Bbl retains a thin silver/brown patina with the front sight heavily modified. Rammer & handle are a dark mottled patina. Frame & hammer are a cleaned silver/gray patina with light surface rust. Cylinder is a dark attic patina with one area of heavy pitting, probably from laying in a holster. Brass trigger guard & back strap are a dark coffee colored patina with reasonable good edges showing light wear. Grip has a chipped left toe with light handling & use marks and retains most of an old refinish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate pitting. Mold is heavily worn with moderate to heavy dings all over, slightly bent handles and retains a dark mustard patina. Sprue cutter is a dark brown patina with moderate rust. Bullet is oxidized. 4-41414 JR96 (40,000-50,000) 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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