LEECH & RIGDON REVOLVER MADE IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

LEECH & RIGDON REVOLVER MADE IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. SN 1404. All parts normally serial numbered on these revolvers are numbered here. #1404 is found on all parts including barrel housing, loading assembly, latch, frame, triggerguard, wedge, cylinder, backstrap, and penciled inside stocks. There is a cartouche shaped like a diamond with “WH” on bottom of right stock. The “WH” stands for Captain Wescom Hudgins, who was imspector at the arsenal in Augusta for the Confederate States Ordnance Department. The markings on this gun, including makers mark and serial numbers are all very good and discernible, as can be seen in photos. Leech & Ridgon #1404, a revolver made at Augusta, Georgia is original in all respects, and one of the finest examples of this manufacturer known. It has an overall very pleasing patina on both the brass and the iron parts. Suitable for the very best of collectors. Thomas Leech moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1854, and established a cotton brokerage business with four English partners. Realizing soon thereafter, that a North-South conflict was relatively imminent, Thomas Leech & Co. entered the business of purchasing and manufacturing military equipage for sale. The firm sold military items under the name of Memphis Novelty Works, Thomas Leech & Co., beginning in August of 1861. The firm made swords, side knives, buckles, spurs, belts and brass castings. Advertisements were placed in The Memphis Appeal for the purchase of copper, zinc and brass and noted that orders were being accepted for swords of all types, knives, bayonets, stirrups and spurs etc. It is at this early point, that Leech associates himself with Charles H. Rigdon and Rigdon’s machinery, lately removed from St. Louis, Missouri (1853) where he had been a manufacturer of scales, a machinist by trade. Rigdon and his machinery is thought to have been involved in the manufacture of the Shawk & McLanahan pistols. Leech & Rigdon formed a partnership in early 1862, changing the firm’s name to Novelty Works and later, to Leech & Rigdon. Yankee successes at Forts Henry and Donelson in early 1862, threatened Tennessee, so Leech & Rigdon relocated operations to Columbus, Mississippi (where Briarfield Arsenal had been planned). The Leech & Rigdon revolver first came into being at Columbus, where Rigdon had brought his St. Louis machinery. It is believed that some 200 pistols were manufactured at Columbus. At Greensboro, the firm continued the manufacture of pistols, attempting to complete the contract with the Confederate Government for the 1500 specified. Records from the Augusta Arsenal show that from September of 1863 to March of 1864, some 903 revolvers were received from Leech & Rigdon, and of those, 814 were issued. Serial # 1461 is the highest number L&R known. While in Greensboro, The partnership of Leech & Rigdon terminated through a recorded dissolution agreement on December 13, 1863. Thus ended the partnership, but not the manufacture of the Leech & Rigdon revolvers. Less than two weeks later, a new co-partnership was formed under the name of Rigdon, Ansley & Co., for the purpose of manufacturing pistols (Colt’s Navy Repeaters) under contract with the government of the Confederate States. (Jesse Ansley had been bookkeeper for the old firm) Rigdon & Ansley immediately began the move from Greensboro to Augusta, Georgia, taking all the machinery and workers with them. R&A undertook to complete the Leech & Rigdon contract for 1500 pistols, stamping them with the L&R name, and generally, making them identical to the L&R pistols already furnished. At the completion of the original contract, Rigdon & Ansley, pursuant to a new contract with the Confederate Government, began production of an ‘improved’ design with twelve cylinder stops, a “Colt-type” loading lever catch, and several other modifications. This latter contract called for the production of 1500 pistols, but the highest serial numbered Rigdon & Ansley revolver known is #2373, so we may conclude that somewhat fewer than 900 were manufactured before production ended in April of 1865. Serial numbers run consecutively throughout the production of Leech & Rigdons and Rigdon & Ansleys. PROVENANCE: Fred Edmunds Collection. CONDITION: Action is functional, bore is very good and discernible, markings are good as described above. Stocks have many scrapes, scratches and dings in butt but the “WH” cartouche is still discernible. 4-38125 JS33 (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
	2471	$29,900.00	LEECH & RIGDON REVOLVER MADE IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA. SN 1404. All parts normally serial numbered on these revolvers are numbered here. #1404 is found on all parts including barrel housing, loading assembly, latch, frame, triggerguard, wedge, cylinder, backstrap, and penciled inside stocks. There is a cartouche shaped like a diamond with “WH” on bottom of right stock. The “WH” stands for Captain Wescom Hudgins, who was imspector at the arsenal in Augusta for the Confederate States Ordnance Department. The markings on this gun, including makers mark and serial numbers are all very good and discernible, as can be seen in photos. Leech & Ridgon #1404, a revolver made at Augusta, Georgia is original in all respects, and one of the finest examples of this manufacturer known. It has an overall very pleasing patina on both the brass and the iron parts. Suitable for the very best of collectors. Thomas Leech moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1854, and established a cotton brokerage business with four English partners. Realizing soon thereafter, that a North-South conflict was relatively imminent, Thomas Leech & Co. entered the business of purchasing and manufacturing military equipage for sale. The firm sold military items under the name of Memphis Novelty Works, Thomas Leech & Co., beginning in August of 1861. The firm made swords, side knives, buckles, spurs, belts and brass castings. Advertisements were placed in The Memphis Appeal for the purchase of copper, zinc and brass and noted that orders were being accepted for swords of all types, knives, bayonets, stirrups and spurs etc. It is at this early point, that Leech associates himself with Charles H. Rigdon and Rigdon’s machinery, lately removed from St. Louis, Missouri (1853) where he had been a manufacturer of scales, a machinist by trade. Rigdon and his machinery is thought to have been involved in the manufacture of the Shawk & McLanahan pistols. Leech & Rigdon formed a partnership in early 1862, changing the firm’s name to Novelty Works and later, to Leech & Rigdon. Yankee successes at Forts Henry and Donelson in early 1862, threatened Tennessee, so Leech & Rigdon relocated operations to Columbus, Mississippi (where Briarfield Arsenal had been planned). The Leech & Rigdon revolver first came into being at Columbus, where Rigdon had brought his St. Louis machinery. It is believed that some 200 pistols were manufactured at Columbus. At Greensboro, the firm continued the manufacture of pistols, attempting to complete the contract with the Confederate Government for the 1500 specified. Records from the Augusta Arsenal show that from September of 1863 to March of 1864, some 903 revolvers were received from Leech & Rigdon, and of those, 814 were issued. Serial # 1461 is the highest number L&R known. While in Greensboro, The partnership of Leech & Rigdon terminated through a recorded dissolution agreement on December 13, 1863. Thus ended the partnership, but not the manufacture of the Leech & Rigdon revolvers. Less than two weeks later, a new co-partnership was formed under the name of Rigdon, Ansley & Co., for the purpose of manufacturing pistols (Colt’s Navy Repeaters) under contract with the government of the Confederate States. (Jesse Ansley had been bookkeeper for the old firm) Rigdon & Ansley immediately began the move from Greensboro to Augusta, Georgia, taking all the machinery and workers with them. R&A undertook to complete the Leech & Rigdon contract for 1500 pistols, stamping them with the L&R name, and generally, making them identical to the L&R pistols already furnished. At the completion of the original contract, Rigdon & Ansley, pursuant to a new contract with the Confederate Government, began production of an ‘improved’ design with twelve cylinder stops, a “Colt-type” loading lever catch, and several other modifications. This latter contract called for the production of 1500 pistols, but the highest serial numbered Rigdon & Ansley revolver known is #2373, so we may conclude that somewhat fewer than 900 were manufactured before production ended in April of 1865. Serial numbers run consecutively throughout the production of Leech & Rigdons and Rigdon & Ansleys. PROVENANCE: Fred Edmunds Collection. CONDITION: Action is functional, bore is very good and discernible, markings are good as described above. Stocks have many scrapes, scratches and dings in butt but the “WH” cartouche is still discernible. 4-38125 JS33 (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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