CampSite Artifacts  ·

Here is a Nice Little Civil War Period Sharps 4-barrel Pepperbox Pistol ! This one is a Model 2C, in .30 caliber and has a serial number in the 7,000 range. Though there is very little finish left on the barrels, they are in good shape. All the silver plate is gone from the brass frame, which now has a nice butternut patina. Mechanically the pistol still functions exactly as it should. The barrels slide forward when the little pin in the front of the frame is pushed in, each time the hammer is cocked the firing pin on the hammer rotates to the next chamber, and the trigger drops the hammer sharply. There is just a ghost of the Sharps Co. markings on the right side of the frame, though I can make out “C. Sharps & 59” on the left side. The serial number is still very legible on the bottom of the grip. Little pistols like this were often carried by officers and soldiers as a personal backup. A Fine Civil War Period Sharps Pepperbox Pistol ! [ L. L. ]

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Here is a Nice Civil War Period Rogers & Spencer Army Revolver ! The finish on the metal is mostly gone, but the metal has acquired a nice overall brown, and all markings are still easily legible. The top of the frame is marked, “Rogers & Spencer Utica N.Y.”. The matching serial numbers of 2112 are on the left side of the frame, cylinder, underside of the barrel, loading lever, and butt of the grip, indicating this revolver is all original. There are sub-inspector’s marks all over the pistol, with the letter B stamped into the left side of the frame, barrel, and two places on the loading lever. The letter B is also stamped on the right side of the frame, barrel, and the cylinder. There is also a main U.S. Inspector’s cartouche stamped into the left side of the grip. All the metal has a mostly brown/gray patina with some moderate pitting here and there. The mechanics are fine, functioning exactly as it should. Only about 5,000 of these revolvers were produced, mostly in 1864, and several hundred were issued to Union soldiers in Kentucky. They can be found today in Fine condition, with 80% or more of the original blue finish remaining, from $2500 to $3000, but this one is priced much nicer. A Good Civil War Period Rogers & Spencer .44 Caliber Army Revolver ! [ D.K. ]

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Here is a Nice Early-1862 Production Model 1860 Colt Army Revolver ! The mechanics are fully functional, holding in both positions, indexing correctly, and dropping the hammer with trigger pull. The revolver has all matching serial numbers on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, cylinder, butt of the grip, and arbor, with only an old replacement wedge that is different. Colt’s barrel address is fully legible, as is the Colt’s Patent on left side of the frame. The right grip shows a U.S. Inspector’s cartouche still visible as well, so you know this pistol saw military action. All the metal is a mostly smooth light brown patina, with some minor pitting here and there, but nothing major. The Colt Army Revolver was one of the most commonly issued Pistols in the war, and here is a Very Good Example, that was undoubtedly there !

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Here is a Good Civil War Period .36 Caliber Savage Navy Revolver ! Only about 20,000 of these were produced, all during the Civil War. A very unusual revolver, it is quite large with a heart shape trigger guard containing a ring trigger, and a spur trigger. Pulling the ring trigger cocks the hammer and rotates the cylinder, while pulling the spur trigger drops the hammer and fires the pistol. This one functions exactly as it should, indexing well, and mechanically functioning great. The maker’s mark on top of the frame is easily legible, reading, “Savage R.F.A. Co. Middletown, CT. H.S. North Patented June 17 1858 January 18 1859, May 15 1860.” Like most of these there is very little finish left on the metal or wood. The left grip has a chip out of the lower left side, while the right grip shows a crack, with some wood missing, and a replaced grip nut. All the metal has a brown/gray patina with some spots of light pitting here and there. In Fine condition these revolvers will go for more than $2,000 but this one is priced nice. A Good Civil War Period Savage Navy Revolver, Ready for your Display ! [ D.K. ]

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Here is a Fine & Uncommon P1858 Enfield Naval Rifle Probably Purchased by the State of Louisiana ! Overall, this weapon is in excellent condition, with all the metal having a nice smooth gray/brown patina, and exhibiting only the usual pitting around the nipple and bolster area. The wood stock still has a good amount of what I think is an old re-finish also. These Navy Rifles are similar to the P1856 2-Band Rifle with several differences. The P1858 Navy has a thicker barrel with 5- land and groove rifling, an 1100 yard rear sight, and brass furniture instead of iron. The right side of the barrel has a bayonet lug for cutlass. This particular rifle is quite unusual. It is almost completely unmarked except for the Birmingham Proofs on left rear of the barrel, and a Star with the letters TC on the top flat of the barrel. The proofs of 24 * 24* indicate .58 caliber not the usually seen .577, which definitely indicates it was produced for export. The exterior of the lock plate is completely unmarked, and I see no cartouches or other markings in the wood. Upon partial dis-assembly there are roman numeral mating numbers of VIII, on the bottom of the barrel, the bottom edge of the lock plate, and in the wood inside the lock cavity. The ramrod is not marked though it appears to be original to the rifle. The brass butt plate and trigger guard have a wonderful mellow golden green patina and both sling loops are present and operational. The lock operates as it should with the hammer holding in both positions and releasing when the trigger is pulled. The 5- land and groove rifling is still sharply defined with only minor pitting present. The only mark I see on the inside of the lock plate is the number 20. On the bottom of the barrel in addition to the mating mark, are the letters RM, HM, a large L, and a small T. I say this gun was likely purchased by the State of Louisiana, but it seems there are two camps of thought on this. One says that the Star & TC is indicative of import and sale by Tiffany & Co. of New York, and there are sabers known with this mark. However, in the new book, The Confederate Enfield, by Captain Steven W. Knott, U.S.N. retired, the Star & TC indicates Louisiana Property. I briefly corresponded with Captain Knott when purchasing his book, and he said that there were a few Louisiana Enfields known with the Star mark on the breech area of the barrel like this one, instead of in the wood on the bottom of the comb area of the stock. The mark is known with and without an -L- in the center of the star, with and without the viewer’s initials of TC, and with both a 5 or 6 point star. I know that most of the Enfields I see on other dealer sites with this mark are described as being rifles purchased early in the war for the State of Louisiana, and delivered on Blockade Runners. But, I have priced this as simply a Fine Original Example of a Rare P1858 Enfield Navy Rifle and is is indeed.  Yet, there is likely a Great Confederate History to go with it !

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Here is a Very Good to Fine Colt Third Model or “Thuer” Derringer in .41 Caliber Rimfire ! It still retains 25-30% of its original blue, mostly on the top of the 2.5 inch barrel, right side, and protected areas such as the lower angle of the right side of the barrel and around the front sight. There is case color still evident on the hammer and a bit on trigger. The brass frame still retains 90% + of its original silver or nickle plating, and the grips as well show approximately 90% of their original finish. Flayderman says Colt made a total of about 48,000 of all three models between 1870 and 1912. This one is a third model with a five digit serial number. The bore still shows good rifling though there is some modest pitting, and the mechanics work fine, with the hammer still holding both positions. Overall, much better condition than most of these Colt Derringers you will see on the internet, yet still priced $150 to $250 dollars less !

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Here is a Nice Little ca. 1860’s Allen & Wheelock Sidehammer 7-shot, .22 Caliber Revolver ! Flayderman says these were all manufactured between 1858 and 1865. There was a total of eight different issues or patterns, and total production was somewhere over 1500. This example is a 4^th or 5^th pattern showing only the 1858 Patent date, and lacking the later 1860 date. The little revolver measures just six inches long with a two and a half inch barrel. All the metal is a smooth gray/brown patina with a couple small areas of moderate pitting, mostly at the cylinder/barrel junction and front edges of the cylinder. The rosewood grips retain a good portion of their original finish showing the usual wear in places. Mechanical function is fine, indexing cylinder each time, locking good at full cock, and dropping hammer with trigger pull. Left flat of the barrel is still legibly marked, “Allen & Wheelock Worcester, Mass U.S. Allen’s Pat’s. Sept. 7, Nov. 9, 1858.” Serial number 21 is marked on the bottom of the barrel, rear of the cylinder, and frame under the left grip. Like the Smith & Wesson No. 1 and a few other diminutive revolvers of the period, this would have made a perfect pocket pistol for any soldier or officer. An 1860’s Allen & Wheelock .22 Revolver that Functions Fine & Displays Great !

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Here is a Nice Original .69 Caliber Flintlock Musket w/Bayonet ! It definitely looks manufactured to export, due to the scarcity of markings, but about 35 years before the American Civil War. Due to the lack of markings, I was initially unsure if this is a Model 1822 French, a Model 1828 Austrian patterned after the 1822 French, or a Belgian copy of one or the other. I see no evidence of the butt stock ever having had the circular plug often seen on French examples, and after seeing a similar musket sell at auction with the same barrel length, I believe it is a either a Model 1828 Austrian, or a Belgian Copy. It has a 37 inch barrel, with a total length of 53 inches and appears to have been manufactured in that configuration, with no evidence of being shortened. As I said, there are very few markings. Of the few, the left side of the barrel near the breech shows a proof mark of three “flames” and the date 1832. All three barrel bands show a number of “43” the upper two on the side and the lower one on the bottom. The lock plate is unmarked, as is the top of the barrel and the barrel tang. The lock screws, hammer screw, tang screw, and the spring screws are all marked with a number 2. On the right back corner of the wood butt stock is a white number 65. And that is all the markings I see. All the metal has a nice mostly smooth gunmetal gray color, with a few areas of brown, but very little pitting. The lock still has a strong spring and functions as it should, holding good in both positions, and releasing the hammer when the trigger is squeezed. Both sling swivels are present and working though stiff. The ramrod appears to be the original tulip head pattern with threads at the other end. The wood grain shows very well, almost having a tiger stripe appearance on the butt stock, and there are no damaged areas. The left side of the butt stock has the recessed cheek rest seen on both the 1822 French patterns, and the 1828 Austrian patterns. I’m not sure the bayonet is the original mate to this weapon, but it fits the musket perfectly and the lock ring functions correctly. On the front of the socket it is marked, “No. 130.”, and on the rear flat of the blade, “9G”. It has an 18.75 inch blade with a total length of 22 inches. The metal shows a mostly gray color with old remnants of some kind of coating, but very little pitting. Overall, just a Nice Looking & Fully Functional ca. 1820’s -1830’s European Flintlock Musket, w/Bayonet !

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