GRISWOLD REVOLVER.

GRISWOLD REVOLVER. SN 3581. Cal. 37. This Griswold is amongst the rarest of the rare, having been assembled from parts and finished by ex-Griswold workers after the factory was fired by Union cavalry. There are only 2 other such other guns known and not as nice as this one. This is one of the highest conditioned Griswold’s known and is highly prized by Mr. Edmunds. The above handgun was completely disassembled and thoroughly examined by Mr. Fred Edmunds, and found to be in excellent original condition. The highest known serial number for the Griswold revolver is 3606, and there are some slight variations which occur near the end of production, such as the gun at hand, and several others which will be described. One unusual feature of the gun at hand is that the frame, backstrap and triggerguard have been silverplated: unusual indeed for a Griswold, but Griswolds numbers 3544 and 3606, and one other specimen observed, also showed traces of silver plating of the same parts! After its cylinder was stamped with the serial #3581, the gun was highly polished and given a fine blue finish: much finer than earlier Griswolds! Finally, the gun was furnished with high quality walnut grips which show nearly all of their orig varnish! The face of the hammer, which is orig, is not milled out to accommodate the safety pins on the rear of the cylinder, but rather, shows a raised “VI’ shape, instead. The other three pistols observed by the undersigned had the same hammer configuration. With the mortality rate so high on Confederate revolvers, and production numbers so low, it would be safe to hazard an opinion that near the end of production, some few Griswolds were indeed highly finished and polished, and were fitted with deluxe varnished walnut grips:this after closely examining four like-specimens. Other markings found on the gun at hand are the usual cryptic marks and numbers found on regular specimens, as follows: CYLINDER: serial number was applied before blueing, so SN 3581, while very evident, cryptic “2” stamped at muzzle end, metal clearly visible and correct. Polishing and appears light: twist to right. BARREL LUG: cryptic mark “2”, at bottom inside. LOADING LEVER: “I’ stamped on top flat. TRIGGERGUARD: cryptic mark “2”, and “VI”. FRAME: Cryptic “RR”, on right inside of standing breech: “VI” on bottom of frame. GRIP: pencilled-in “2”. BACKSTRAP : “21” stamped on right inside: “XVX” stamped on right-side butt: cryptic “2” stamped lower left corner inside backstrap. HAMMER: cryptic “2” stamped. RATCHET ARM: stamped “1”: spring missing. Many different cryptic marks are to be found on Griswold revolver parts: they are thought to be inspection or assembly marks. There are Roman-type configurations as well as regular numbers regarded as secondary marks. If there is one abiding generality which can be made about Griswold & Gunnison revolvers, it is that while there is great similarity of design and function among them, each piece has its own individuality and personality, and parts will not interchange: this is the reason for all the markings. Griswolds were made with the help of slave labor, and there was total hand-fitting, making each different to some extent. Sometimes it is this relatively crude manufacturing method which makes counterfeiting easier to detect! In conclusion, the specimen described herein is original in all respects and its excellent condition make it a very desirable collector’s specimen. Nearly every Confederate collector is familiar with the brass-framed revolver known as the Griswold & Gunnison. Most accept the premise that there are two distinct models of the Griswold: the first having a rounded barrel housing; the second, an octagonal housing. Some recent research involving some high serial numbered Griswolds, reveals what appears to be at the very least, a variation of the second model! This variant second model crops out in Griswolds numbered #3544, #3581, #358_, and #3606 (the highest serial number known). All four of the above numbered specimens have been disassembled and examined and compared with other “regular” Griswolds. The four high-numbered models differed in the following respects: 1) Their brass frames, backstraps and triggerguards had all been silver plated, with gun # 3581 still showing 25% silver remaining: the others had many traces of silver plating on the same parts. 2) The faces of the hammers were not milled out to accommodate cylinder safety pins, but instead, have raised flat protrusions in the form of a “V”. There was no knurling on the hammers. 3) All grips were of high quality walnut and were originally varnished, with gun # 3581 retaining 95% original varnish. 4) On all four specimens examined, there seems to have been an effort to create a deluxe finish. Gun # 3581 was first stamped on the cylinder, then highly polished before blueing: it still retains some 70% of its original finish! 5) All four guns show various cryptic marks, peculiar to Griswolds. In his fine reference work, “CONFEDERATE REVOLVERS”, author William Gary observes that after the Griswold pistol factory was destroyed by Union cavalry in November of 1864, work ceased at that site; but as deliveries to the Confederacy continued to April of 1865, production could have resumed elsewhere, with uncompleted guns and parts being removed, taken elsewhere and finished. This observation may be further enhanced by the fact that gun # 3581 has no further serial number stampings than on the cylinder. We firmly believes that Mr. Gary is correct in his observation, and that it just might be possible that these four high numbered Griswolds are among those which were completed after the pistol factory was destroyed! An excellent topic for further research! PROVENANCE: Fred Edmunds, E. Berkly Bowie, and Al Kelley CONDITION: As noted above. 4-38130 JS37 (30,000-35,000)

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
	2465	$0.00	GRISWOLD REVOLVER. SN 3581. Cal. 37. This Griswold is amongst the rarest of the rare, having been assembled from parts and finished by ex-Griswold workers after the factory was fired by Union cavalry. There are only 2 other such other guns known and not as nice as this one. This is one of the highest conditioned Griswold’s known and is highly prized by Mr. Edmunds. The above handgun was completely disassembled and thoroughly examined by Mr. Fred Edmunds, and found to be in excellent original condition. The highest known serial number for the Griswold revolver is 3606, and there are some slight variations which occur near the end of production, such as the gun at hand, and several others which will be described. One unusual feature of the gun at hand is that the frame, backstrap and triggerguard have been silverplated: unusual indeed for a Griswold, but Griswolds numbers 3544 and 3606, and one other specimen observed, also showed traces of silver plating of the same parts! After its cylinder was stamped with the serial #3581, the gun was highly polished and given a fine blue finish: much finer than earlier Griswolds! Finally, the gun was furnished with high quality walnut grips which show nearly all of their orig varnish! The face of the hammer, which is orig, is not milled out to accommodate the safety pins on the rear of the cylinder, but rather, shows a raised “VI’ shape, instead. The other three pistols observed by the undersigned had the same hammer configuration. With the mortality rate so high on Confederate revolvers, and production numbers so low, it would be safe to hazard an opinion that near the end of production, some few Griswolds were indeed highly finished and polished, and were fitted with deluxe varnished walnut grips:this after closely examining four like-specimens. Other markings found on the gun at hand are the usual cryptic marks and numbers found on regular specimens, as follows: CYLINDER: serial number was applied before blueing, so SN 3581, while very evident, cryptic “2” stamped at muzzle end, metal clearly visible and correct. Polishing and appears light: twist to right. BARREL LUG: cryptic mark “2”, at bottom inside. LOADING LEVER: “I’ stamped on top flat. TRIGGERGUARD: cryptic mark “2”, and “VI”. FRAME: Cryptic “RR”, on right inside of standing breech: “VI” on bottom of frame. GRIP: pencilled-in “2”. BACKSTRAP : “21” stamped on right inside: “XVX” stamped on right-side butt: cryptic “2” stamped lower left corner inside backstrap. HAMMER: cryptic “2” stamped. RATCHET ARM: stamped “1”: spring missing. Many different cryptic marks are to be found on Griswold revolver parts: they are thought to be inspection or assembly marks. There are Roman-type configurations as well as regular numbers regarded as secondary marks. If there is one abiding generality which can be made about Griswold & Gunnison revolvers, it is that while there is great similarity of design and function among them, each piece has its own individuality and personality, and parts will not interchange: this is the reason for all the markings. Griswolds were made with the help of slave labor, and there was total hand-fitting, making each different to some extent. Sometimes it is this relatively crude manufacturing method which makes counterfeiting easier to detect! In conclusion, the specimen described herein is original in all respects and its excellent condition make it a very desirable collector’s specimen. Nearly every Confederate collector is familiar with the brass-framed revolver known as the Griswold & Gunnison. Most accept the premise that there are two distinct models of the Griswold: the first having a rounded barrel housing; the second, an octagonal housing. Some recent research involving some high serial numbered Griswolds, reveals what appears to be at the very least, a variation of the second model! This variant second model crops out in Griswolds numbered #3544, #3581, #358_, and #3606 (the highest serial number known). All four of the above numbered specimens have been disassembled and examined and compared with other “regular” Griswolds. The four high-numbered models differed in the following respects: 1) Their brass frames, backstraps and triggerguards had all been silver plated, with gun # 3581 still showing 25% silver remaining: the others had many traces of silver plating on the same parts. 2) The faces of the hammers were not milled out to accommodate cylinder safety pins, but instead, have raised flat protrusions in the form of a “V”. There was no knurling on the hammers. 3) All grips were of high quality walnut and were originally varnished, with gun # 3581 retaining 95% original varnish. 4) On all four specimens examined, there seems to have been an effort to create a deluxe finish. Gun # 3581 was first stamped on the cylinder, then highly polished before blueing: it still retains some 70% of its original finish! 5) All four guns show various cryptic marks, peculiar to Griswolds. In his fine reference work, “CONFEDERATE REVOLVERS”, author William Gary observes that after the Griswold pistol factory was destroyed by Union cavalry in November of 1864, work ceased at that site; but as deliveries to the Confederacy continued to April of 1865, production could have resumed elsewhere, with uncompleted guns and parts being removed, taken elsewhere and finished. This observation may be further enhanced by the fact that gun # 3581 has no further serial number stampings than on the cylinder. We firmly believes that Mr. Gary is correct in his observation, and that it just might be possible that these four high numbered Griswolds are among those which were completed after the pistol factory was destroyed! An excellent topic for further research! PROVENANCE: Fred Edmunds, E. Berkly Bowie, and Al Kelley CONDITION: As noted above. 4-38130 JS37 (30,000-35,000) 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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