DANCE & BROTHERS CONFEDERATE REVOLVER.

DANCE & BROTHERS CONFEDERATE REVOLVER. Cal. 44. The Dance revolver at hand, serial # (diamond), is one of several known to Mr. Edmunds to have been converted to .44 rimfire cartridge after the Civil War. Thus, it served in the War Between The States, and later, in all probability, on the Western Frontier! The conversion was accomplished by milling off the rear portion of the original cylinder containing the percussion structure, then adding a new cylindrical metal member to the rear of the cylinder, then milling it so as to conform it to the size of the original cylinder. When the new member was bored through in alignment with the original chambers, the .44 rimfire cylinder was in place. The original hammer was then fitted with a floating firing pin that was designed to strike the rimfire cartridge. Finally, the right side of the frame was groove-filed for ease in loading the cartridge. Dance, serial # (diamond),is in excellent original condition, showing the same serial marking on all of its major parts. All Of its round-headed screws are original. The finish on the gun at hand was of a deluxe quality as is the burl walnut one-piece grip. These same characteristics are to be noted on Dance serial # 0 0, which was at one time in Mr. Edmund’s collection also. Noted author and collector, Sam Smith (now deceased) believed that these “Deluxe Dances” were meant to be used as sales promotions to show to prospective purchasers perhaps so, we may never know. The barrel has many traces of original blue, traces of case hardening remain on the frame. Brass backstrap and triggerguard are in excellent condition. The Dance revolver described herein is one of the finest remaining specimens of the manufacturer. It has been treated very kindly over the years, and deserves a place in the finest collection of Civil War artifacts. Accompanying this revolver is a compiled list of all known Dance Revolvers. James Henry Dance and his three brothers, Perry, David and Isaac, settled in a small town directly south of Houston, Texas, called Columbia, which was located on the banks of the Brazos River. It was the year 1853. The original Dance family, having migrated from Virginia to North Carolina, then Alabama, finally chose Texas as the home for their manufacturing talents. The Dance Brothers machine shop was converted to a revolver manufactory at the outset of the Civil War, and while all four brothers enlisted in the 35th Texas Cavalry, only 1st Lieutenant James Henry Dance remained on active duty, the other brothers being detailed back to the Dance pistol factory for the duration of the war, where they made pistols for the Confederacy. The six-shot percussion revolver produced by Dance is readily recognizable by its flat frame, rather than the Colt’s rounded recoil shield (though a few Dance revolvers have rounded recoil shields). Dance revolvers are extremely well made, comparing very favorably with Colt products, and generally exhibiting higher quality workmanship than their Confederate counterparts. PROVENANCE: Fred Edmunds Collection. CONDITION: As described above 4-38132 JS35 (50,000-60,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

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
	2464	$43,125.00	DANCE & BROTHERS CONFEDERATE REVOLVER. Cal. 44. The Dance revolver at hand, serial # (diamond), is one of several known to Mr. Edmunds to have been converted to .44 rimfire cartridge after the Civil War. Thus, it served in the War Between The States, and later, in all probability, on the Western Frontier! The conversion was accomplished by milling off the rear portion of the original cylinder containing the percussion structure, then adding a new cylindrical metal member to the rear of the cylinder, then milling it so as to conform it to the size of the original cylinder. When the new member was bored through in alignment with the original chambers, the .44 rimfire cylinder was in place. The original hammer was then fitted with a floating firing pin that was designed to strike the rimfire cartridge. Finally, the right side of the frame was groove-filed for ease in loading the cartridge. Dance, serial # (diamond),is in excellent original condition, showing the same serial marking on all of its major parts. All Of its round-headed screws are original. The finish on the gun at hand was of a deluxe quality as is the burl walnut one-piece grip. These same characteristics are to be noted on Dance serial # 0 0, which was at one time in Mr. Edmund’s collection also. Noted author and collector, Sam Smith (now deceased) believed that these “Deluxe Dances” were meant to be used as sales promotions to show to prospective purchasers perhaps so, we may never know. The barrel has many traces of original blue, traces of case hardening remain on the frame. Brass backstrap and triggerguard are in excellent condition. The Dance revolver described herein is one of the finest remaining specimens of the manufacturer. It has been treated very kindly over the years, and deserves a place in the finest collection of Civil War artifacts. Accompanying this revolver is a compiled list of all known Dance Revolvers. James Henry Dance and his three brothers, Perry, David and Isaac, settled in a small town directly south of Houston, Texas, called Columbia, which was located on the banks of the Brazos River. It was the year 1853. The original Dance family, having migrated from Virginia to North Carolina, then Alabama, finally chose Texas as the home for their manufacturing talents. The Dance Brothers machine shop was converted to a revolver manufactory at the outset of the Civil War, and while all four brothers enlisted in the 35th Texas Cavalry, only 1st Lieutenant James Henry Dance remained on active duty, the other brothers being detailed back to the Dance pistol factory for the duration of the war, where they made pistols for the Confederacy. The six-shot percussion revolver produced by Dance is readily recognizable by its flat frame, rather than the Colt’s rounded recoil shield (though a few Dance revolvers have rounded recoil shields). Dance revolvers are extremely well made, comparing very favorably with Colt products, and generally exhibiting higher quality workmanship than their Confederate counterparts. PROVENANCE: Fred Edmunds Collection. CONDITION: As described above 4-38132 JS35 (50,000-60,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 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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