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CSA Marked Kerr Perc. Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,500.00 USD
CSA Marked Kerr Perc. Revolver
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
CSA Marked Kerr Percussion Revolver, #11319, .54 bore (.44 cal.), 5-1/2'' octagon barrel integral to frame, blue finish, checkered walnut grips with ''C.S.A.'' neatly stamped in upper area of left grip panel; ''Kerr's Patent'' hand engraved to lower portion of left side of frame above triggerguard just before serial number; serial number is then repeated on cylinder. Bottom of barrel beneath loading lever is marked ''L845''; top left diagonal flat of barrel marked ''LAC(crown)P(crown)V''. Lower right portion of lockplate marked ''London/Armory'' in oval. Watertable of frame marked ''J852'' beneath cylinder, and ''852'' to inside bottom of triggerguard and bottom of topstrap. As identified in ''Confederate Handguns'', by Albaugh, page 132. The Confederate government sent Caleb Huse to Europe to purchase arms of all types. He succeeded in placing an order with the London Armory Co., and the first delivery occurred in Sept. 1861 when the steamer Bermuda docked in Sav!
annah Harbor. By March 1862, he had an exclusive contract with the London Armory Co. for all arms produced by their firm. Although Kerr revolvers were made in both .44 and .36 calibers, only .44 cal. revolvers were shipped to the Confederacy. As this pistol lacks the ''JS/(anchor)'' found on many Kerr revolvers just below the triggerguard, which is possibly a hallmark of arms shipped to the Confederacy, many collectors believe this is simply the mark of J. Smiles, the gripmaker at the London Armory and has no Confederate significance. Condition is very good to near fine retaining approx. 70% original thinning and toning blue. Grips show light flattening to coarse checks. All touch holes are clear, and as this revolver is somewhat late, it remains in mechanically near excellent condition. Action remains crisp and tight, bore is near excellent. Est.: $5,000-$7,500.