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CIVIL WAR INSCRIBED SMITH & WESSON #2 ARMY HALF PLATE REVOLVER OF LT. EDWARD QUINN 123RD NY.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
CIVIL WAR INSCRIBED SMITH & WESSON #2 ARMY HALF PLATE REVOLVER OF LT. EDWARD QUINN 123RD NY.
SN 3885. Cal. 32. This is an early Smith & Wesson Army revolver with 2-pin frame made in 1861. This is an unusual early example of the popular Civil War sidearm with 6" bbl with blued bbl and cyl and silvered frame. The gun has matching assembly numbers, and the SN is stamped on inside of grip. Presentation engraved on backstrap reads "Lieut. E.P. Quinn 123rd NY Vols". Lt. Quinn entered the war on August 14, 1862 at the age of 27 as a 2nd Lt. He was promoted to 1st Lt. in February 1863. He led his company at the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg and later in several battles in the Atlanta Campaign. On June 22, 1864 at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain Quinn was shot in the face, a shot which carried away the lower portion of his jaw and caused his discharge from the service for medical disability. The 123rd NY was one of the hardest fought Union regiments around Atlanta and had among the highest casualties. Along with a large archive of research materials and a copy of the Spring 1990 Smith & Wesson Collector's Association Journal where this gun is pictured and described with an original CDV which is included in this lot; There is an original stereo view circa 1890 of the 123rd NY monument at Gettysburg. Also included is a first edition regimental history "Reminiscences of the 123rd Regiment N.Y.S.V" by Sargent Henry Morhous 1879 and a later regimental history "Soldiering: The Diary of Rice C. Bull" edited by Jack Bauer 1977. A large framed albumen orig photograph 16" x 11-3/4" showing the unveiling of the 123rd New York Monument at Gettysburg dated September 4, 1890 by W.H. Tipton. PROVENANCE: Tom LoPiano Collection, Marlan Polhemus Collection. CONDITION: Gun retains about 10% of its original blue finish on bbl with staining and pitting and balance of metal gray/brown. Cyl retains no original finish but matches bbl with same gray/brown color with staining and pitting. Frame retains over 90% of its original silver plating with areas of pitting and bubbling. Maker and patent marks on bbl flat and cyl are crisp and easily read as are serial numbers. Rosewood grips are sound and solid with several dings and dents and strong traces of original varnish. Mechanically gun functions with well discerned crisp rifling. 4-48738 JS72