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EARLY CIVIL WAR SMITH & WESSON ARMY REVOLVER &

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
EARLY CIVIL WAR SMITH & WESSON ARMY REVOLVER &
HOLSTER PRESENTED TO R.C. TAFT, 49TH MASS. INF. W/ SMALL ARCHIVE. Cal. 32. S# 8283. Standard configuration of the 1st Smith & Wesson Army revolver 6” ribbed bbl w/ 1 line S & W address, early 3 pin frame, 2 piece rosewood grips, inscribed on backstrap “presented to Lieut. R. C. Taft by Co. K, 49th Reg Mass Vols”. Roscoe Chauncey Taft (1836-1913) was appointed 1st Lieut. October 17, 1862 to Co. K, 49th Massachusetts volunteers who served in Louisiana till unit being mustered out September 1863. Many men in the unit suffered in the swamps, about 100 died in less than one year service from disease on top of casualties endured at Port Hudson. Roscoe was among the many debilitated by illness and mustered out July 1863. He returned home, recovered, was active in veteran’s organizations & apparently continued to shoot his gun with the vintage cartridges in S&W box w/ revolver & holster. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: accompanied by fine, thin, patent leather military style flap holster w/ brass finial closure. Pistol & holster housed in later brown S & W box for “Military 38 Police”. 2 Original 50 rnd. illustrated cartridge packs for 32 cal. rimfire cartridges. Rare original officer’s embroidered infantry insignia w/ regimental numbers, rare lg. homemade 1st Lieutenant straps (4.5 x 1.6") for non-reg. coat most likely & 7 original 23mm eagle & eagle “I” buttons accompany, along w/ rare 1864 regimental history “Life with 49th Massachusetts Volunteers”, by Henry T Jones, Taft’s personal copy. Also accompanied are a pair of Victorian Holley Mfg. Company 4-blade pocketknives w/ mother-of-pearl grips made in Lakeville Connecticut, engraved w/ Taft’s name on one and initials on other. 9.5 x 5.5” copper printing plate for advertising flyers for “Taft’s Dry Goods Store” & GAR era 1850 eagle buckle w/ loose patent leather belt. CONDITION: pistol fine to excellent as replated (possibly explains later S & W box, possibly refinished at S & W as company wasn’t that far from his business & home). Markings, include inscription all crisp & well discerned. Accompanying holster is supple & very good, insignia all very good. Regimental history has good decorated cover & spine, light edge chipping, couple signatures shaken & loose and front hinge loose internally. (01-19381/JS). ANTIQUE. $3,000-4,000.