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Confederate 18th Virginia Cavalry - IDENTIFIED - Beaumont Adams Percussion Revolver |
NOTICE
********NOW OPERATING FROM OUR NEW HEADQUARTERS ********
Now fully operational from the beautiful Pacific North West, we encourage all to keep a close eye as we unpack posted offerings and continue what will be an ongoing effort of unpacking the collection while taking stock with an eye toward thinning out our accumulation of treasures. After years of seeking out and acquiring all manner of quality antique Americana from simple but seldom surviving items of special interest to historically important treasures, Janet and I look forward to offering the fruits of our years of seeking out such to new and appreciative homes.
Visitors will also enjoy our museum site at www.MaineLegacy.com
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Your Price: $ 4750.00
Item Number: 63286
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SN 34849R (all matching) - ADAMS Pat. B19100 - English 54-bore (about .442 caliber) -L.A.C. (London Arms Co.) - Kerr’s Pat. rammer - crown over CP- crown over V proofs
Pleasing condition / uncleaned and totally original with good evidence of period use and carrying but with no abuse. Boasting evidence of original period bluing on the lower barrel flats and under the Kerr style side loading lever, these heavily use Confederate serial range Adams revolvers are a rare find and then only in rough used up condition. Identified by extremely light, but discernible under a glass, are script period markings P. H. Snarr, (Of the 18th Virginia Cavalry see below Gettysburg veteran / Winchester amputee & POW Philip H. Snarr) this arm remains in unquestionably pure and in as used condition with minor pitting ahead of the cylinder from firing, untouched natural white patina with traces of original blue finish on the barrel and low spots. The grip remains in pleasing condition save a chip at the hammer on the left side. Otherwise, excellent with commensurate period wear to the still fine classically English checking. Appropriate to this arm, the barrel top flat is unmarked with L.A.C , Crown over CP and Crown over V on the left barrel flat. The cylinder is serial numbered to the frame with Crown over V marking. The cylinder pin is marked 1818 with 18 &18 adjacent to the nipples on the cylinder. The action is smooth and well-functioning. Note that typical in English revolver style, the cylinder only locks upwhen the trigger is pulled completely back in double action mode or single action mode when the hammer is locked in the fully cocked position . This eliminates the need for a spring actuated cylinder stop in the bottom of the frame, a feature typical of American guns of the era like those of Colt and Remington.
With lots of good information on Confederate used Beaumont Adams revolvers appearing in Pritchard and Huey’s The English Connection (pgs 216-225 & 550) some documented Confederate usage Adams are serial numbers 33346, Henry Trent 18th Va. H. A. / 36853 Maj. Gen. Wm. Martin Wheelers Cav. / 40573 Stonewall Jackson (presented by Adams) / 41039 & 41057 (Museum of the Confederacy) / Confederate States Navy used numbers 41080 - 41113 & 41116 and the Jefferson Davis Adams presentation Adams SN 40568. This revolver was personally surrendered by the Confederate States President to Cavalryman John Hines of the 4th Michigan Cavalry at the time of capture on May 10, 1865.
As to the all-important L.A.C. marking and the serial range considered certain to Confederate association, we would note that In 1861 the Confederacy sent purchasing agent Caleb Huse to Europe to procure weapons for their armies. By March 1862 Huse had an exclusive contract with the London Armory Company for all the arms they could produce, making them the foremost source of weapons for the Confederacy in Europe. They supplied .577 Enfields, .451 Target Rifles, Kerr Revolvers, and the subject Beaumont Adams Revolvers. The English Connection by Pritchard and Huey advises that there are considerable historic relationships to the Confederacy for guns between serial numbers 33,000 & 42,000 Additionally, it should be noted that the Confederate uses examples of the Beaumont Adams revolver may well not have any dealer markings on the top of the barrel with the only identifying characteristic other than the serial number being the L.A.C. mark at the left rear of the barrel. A study of the Pratt Roll, (aka Pratt List see: Lt. Julian Pratt, Co. H 18th Virginia Cavalry) will reveal that examples of the maker of revolvers within the subject serial range are not recorded by Lt Pratt indicating there were no markings on the barrel top of these guns as was used to identify the arm. Examples of Beaumont Adams revolvers on that list leaving the name of the gun maker blank because there was nothing engraved on the top strap was apparently because the Lieutenant did not understand that the LAC mark on the barrel meant London Armory Company.
Lt. Philip H. Snarr / 14th Va. Militia then 18th Virginia Cavalry Enlisted as Cpl. Co. C 14th Va. Militia at Davidson’s North River, Hardy County, Va. Appointed 2nd Lt. Co. B 18th Cav (became 1st Co. G 62nd Va. Mounted Inf. C.S.A.) 20 Aug. 1863 at Hardy, Va. / Pro. 1st Lt. Sept. 1864 POW 10/19/1864 at Winchester, Va. imprisoned at Old Capitol Prison & Ft. Delaware Paroled 2/27/1865 sent to City Point for exchange (no date of exchange) Admitted to Chimborazo Hospital No. 2 Richmond 3/5/1865 where he was re-captured 4/3/1865 and turned over to the Provost Marshal 4/21/1865 / Paroled at Libby Prison 4/22/65
With lots of material including copies of original Confederate documents as well as insight into Snarr’s personal and family history available on the internet we will send along our own research notes to include interned links. In the interest of brevity suffice it to say here that Snarr saw extensive service in the Confederate army as part of Stonewall Jackson’s Army, lost a leg by gunshot was captured and taken by the enemy to a hospital at Winchester, was paroled to return to Richmond only to be re-captured and held in the now federal Libby Prison prison) where he remained to the close of the war. It has been recorded that upon his release from Libby, Snarr walked on crutches from Richmond to his home in Woodstock, Virginia. Eventually he was engaged in the mercantile business followed the carpenter's trade. Snarr taught in public schools several years, was Justice of the Peace, Commissioner and Assessor. He was a strong Southerner, who on patriotic principal would not accept a pension and remained firm to his convictions until death.
A rarely encountered firearm with an exceptional history, this revolver will make especially desirable addition to any Civil War collection and will be of particular interest to the deep dish Confederate collector.
Buy with confidence! We are pleased to offer a no questions asked three day inspection with return as purchased on direct sales! Just send us a courtesy e-mail to let us know your item will be returned per these provisions and your purchase price will be refunded accordingly. Thanks for visiting Gunsight Antiques!
A note about firearms: WE EMPHASIZE HERE THAT THIS PIECE IS CONSIDERED AN ANTIQUE / COLLECTIBLE AND IS THEREFORE OUTSIDE FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO COVERED (MODERN) FIREARMS. THE PIECE IS OFFERED AS A HISTORICAL COLLECTABLE ONLY AND THOUGH MECHANICALLY OPERABLE, IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED FIREABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THE PURCHASER ASSUMES ALL LIABILITY FOR PURCHAS, CONTROL AND OWNERSHIP. PURCHASE OF THIS ITEM WILL CONSTITUTE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF AND AGREEMENT WITH THE ABOVE.
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