Premier Fine Art & Antiques Auction
August 29, 2023
Below is just a small portion of the massive selection of high quality art & antiques to be featured in our upcoming August 29th 2023 auction! This auction will span multiple genres of collectibles, including Fine Paintings & Art, Jewelry & Silver, Orientalia, Rare Glass & Lamps, Early & Victorian Furniture, Decoys, Carvings, Coin-Op, & MORE!
Only Inscribed Confederate Leech & Rigdon Revolver Extant, Beautiful Condition & Great History, Ex-Richard Steuart and Bill Albaugh Collections
01-22808
Cal. 36.
S#899.
Standard configuration of the Confederate copy of Colt 3rd model dragoon in navy caliber and size, pin-ball loading lever latch, no capping channel in recoil shield made by Leech & Rigdon, Greensboro, Georgia in 1863. 7.5” round barrel, octagonal barrel housing marked “LEECH & RIGDON CSA”. Revolver is in beautiful condition 100% original & matching serial numbers. Cryptic “N” inspection stamped on both sided of trigger guard.
This Leech & Rigdon revolver was purchased direct from Gilmor family about 1900 by pioneer Confederate collector, author, and historian Richard Steuart (1878-1951). He then had commemorative inscription applied “Col Harry Gilmor, 2nd MD Cav CSA” and published this in “Magazine of Antique Firearms, vol. III, No. 1, Dec. 1911”. This was one of only 3 Confederate revolvers displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit of Great Colt Revolvers in 1942 and pictured and described in “Catalogue of Loan Exhibition of Percussion Colts 1836-1873” published 1942. This revolver was only been in the hands of 3 collectors in past 120 years!
Revolver was cleaned and burnished which was the norm in 1900, perfect in every regard with crisp markings and fine action. Harry Gilmor is famous Confederate commander who penned his memoir while held prisoner at Ft. Warren in 1865. “Four Years in the Saddle” best seller published by Harper, NY 1866. The revolver is in magnificent condition and the officer who carried it is still remembered today and his birthday still celebrated on Confederate Hill in Baltimore where he is buried.
ANTIQUE
