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EXCEPTIONAL CIVIL WAR CASED AND INSCRIBED SMITH & WESSON #2 ARMY REVOLVER OF CAPTAIN MARTIN LENNON,

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:7,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
EXCEPTIONAL CIVIL WAR CASED AND INSCRIBED SMITH & WESSON #2 ARMY REVOLVER OF CAPTAIN MARTIN LENNON,
SN 15074. Cal. 32. This is an exceptional example of a cased and inscribed Civil War Smith & Wesson army revolver with 6" bbl. Based on serial number this gun was made around November 1863 and would have been presented by his men prior to his untimely death in November 1864. This gun retains almost all of its original finish and is as fine an example as you will encounter especially in factory presentation casing with silver presentation plaque on butt. Case colors are on the hammer, trigger and ejector rod. Our consignor states "The original factory mahogany case supplied by M. W. Robinson has red velvet lining (excellent condition); with rare cleaning rod for the No. 2; a green labeled cardboard cartridge box for .32 Cal. long R. F., by Hall & Hubbard, a successor to Smith, Hall, Buckland and manufactured under the S&W patent of April 17, 1860; a pewter oiler; and ten loose cartridges with dished heads indicating early S&W manufacture." All assembly numbers match, and SN is stamped under grip. Captain Lennon joined the 77th in October 1861 and was promoted to Lt. in November 1861. He along with his regiment saw much action with the Army of the Potomac being involved in the battle of the Peninsula Campaign and the seven days before Richmond, Antietam, Malvern Hill, Fairfax Courthouse, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, the "Bloody Angle" at Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Fort Stevens. Lennon now promoted to Captain was involved in Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley campaign in 1864 where he fought in the battles around Winchester, Fisher's Hill and at Cedar Creek where he was severely wounded on October 19, 1864. This was the date of Sheridan's famous ride. He died from his wounds November 1, 1864. This gun is pictured along with detailed history in The American Society of Arms Collector's Bulletin No. 93 2006. This publication along with a large archive of research and some original materials accompanies this lot. Included in this group are two B&W photos of Lennon as a 2nd Lieut. & Captain. PROVENANCE: Mario Marinetto Collection, David Burghoff Collection, Marlan Polhemus Collection. CONDITION: Gun retains about 99% of its original bright blue finish on frame, cyl and bbl with some scratching on right side of frame. Maker and patent marks on bbl flat and cyl are crisp and easily read as are serial numbers. Rosewood grips are very fine retaining almost all their original varnished finish. Mechanically gun functions well with crisp shiny bore. 4-48735 JS76