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Historic Pair of Factory Cased Smith & Wesson No. 2 Old Army Revolvers -A) Smith & Wesson No. 2 Army

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:8,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
Historic Pair of Factory Cased Smith & Wesson No. 2 Old Army Revolvers -A) Smith & Wesson No. 2 Army
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A) This is a very fine original pair of Civil War production Smith & Wesson Model Number 2 Old Model revolvers (a.k.a. No. 2 Old Army) with factory case and accessories. The inlaid brass shield in the case lid is inscribed: "UPRR" over the monogram "GMD". The consignor states that these pistols were the property of General Grenville M. Dodge (1831-1916). Dodge was an important general officer in the Union Army during the Civil War and the Chief Engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad in the years that followed the war. "UPRR/GMD" almost certainly stands for "Union Pacific Railroad/Grenville M. Dodge". Grenville Dodge was born in Danvers, Massachusetts, and studied civil engineering at Norwich College. He surveyed for what became the Union Pacific Railroad before the Civil War and moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1854. With the outbreak of the Civil War he was appointed Colonel of the 4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was a key figure in the Federal victory at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, and was wounded in action. As a general officer he fought in the Vicksburg and Chattanooga campaigns. He was promoted to Major General in 1864 and commanded XVI Corps in the Army of Tennessee. Dodge was instrumental in the capture of Atlanta and was wounded during the siege. In 1865, Dodge was appointed commander of the Department of the Missouri and played a leading role in the Powder River War. Dodge resigned from the Army in 1866 and was elected to Congress from Iowa where he served for one term (1866-1868). In 1868 he took the position of Chief Engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad. Dodge was responsible for selection of the route of the transcontinental railroad through Wyoming and Utah. He is prominently pictured in the photograph of the junction of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads at Promontory Point, Utah. The revolvers have six-inch barrels, three pin frames and six shot, non-fluted cylinders. The barrel, cylinders and frames have the high polish S&W blue finish. The hammers, triggers and cylinder pins are color casehardened. The two-piece stocks are rosewood with a high polish, varnish finish. The top of the barrel ribs are roll-stamped with the legend: "SMITH.& WESSON.SPRINGFIELD, MASS." in a single line. The cylinders are roll-stamped: "PATENTED APRIL 3.1855.JULY 5.1859. & DEC 18.1860." in a single line. Revolver A has the assembly number "X2" stamped on the barrel lug below the forcing cone and on the face of the cylinder. Revolver B has the assembly number "L7" stamped in the same locations. Revolver A has the serial number "11214" stamped on the butt; Revolver B has the serial number "10631" on the butt. The mahogany case has varnish finish and inlaid brass shield on the lid. The interior is lined with blue velvet and has three compartments. The case is complete with a pewter oil bottle, four-piece, jointed steel cleaning rod with wooden handle and brass tip and an empty carton of 50 No. 2 Pistol Cartridges manufactured by S&W. The S&W No. 2 Old Army revolver was a popular firearm that was frequently carried by Federal officers during the Civil War and widely used on the frontier following the War. General George A. Custer owned a cased pair of S&W No. 2 Old Army revolvers. Legendary gunfighter William B. ("Wild Bill") Hickok carried a S&W No.2 Old Army Revolver when he was killed in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, in 1876. General Grenville Dodge was an important Civil War General and a key figure in the construction of the transcontinental Railroad that opened the American West. These are an extremely historic pair of factory cased S&W No. 2 Old Army revolvers.
BBL: 6.0 inch
Stock:
Gauge: 32 RF
Finish: blue
Grips: rosewood
Serial Number: 11214
Condition: Very fine. Revolver A retains 70% of the original high polish blue finish. Most of the wear is concentrated on the sides of the barrel and back strap where the finish was aged to a blue-gray patina. There are traces of light pitting on the butt, the sides of the cylinder and the barrel at the muzzle. The face of the cylinder has moderate flash pitting. The case colors on the cylinder pin, trigger and hammer have faded to a mottled silver gray patina. The grips are in excellently condition and retain nearly all of the high polish varnish finish with several minor handling marks. The barrel and cylinder markings are sharp. The action is tight and functions fine. The case interior is in very fine original condition. The blue velvet lining is clean, bright and free from oil stains or tears. Wear is limited to minor compression marks from the revolver cylinders and one small chip in the edge of the case.

B) Described in "A".
BBL: 6.0 inch
Stock:
Gauge: 32 S&W
Finish: Blue
Grips: rosewood
Serial Number: 10631
Condition: Very fine. The revolver retains 75% plus of the original blue finish. The balance of the revolver has a pleasing blue-gray patina. The cylinder has some scattered flash pitting on the face and leading edge. The hammer, trigger and cylinder pin have 30-40% of the original case colors. The markings on the barrel and cylinder are sharp. The rosewood grips are in excellent condition with nearly all of the original varnish and minimal handling wear. The action is tight and functions perfectly. The case is in fine condition. The exterior retains most of the original varnish and has superficial handling marks. This is an outstanding factory cased set of S&W No. 2 Old Army Revolvers; the combination of rarity, condition and historic association with a significant Civil War General and important figure in the history of the American West is a unique combination.