Lot 1152

General Naglee's Colt 1860 Army Revolvers, Sword, Coat, & Medals

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General Naglee's Colt 1860 Army Revolvers, Sword, Coat, & Medals

Estimate: $140,000 - $225,000

Starting Bid: $120,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Well-Documented, Historic, and Exceptional Presentation Cased Pair of Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolvers Inscribed to General Henry M. Naglee with His Sword and Scabbard, Officer's Frock Coat, Medals, and Extensive Documentation -A) Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver Well-Documented, Historic, and Exceptional Presentation Cased Pair of Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolvers Inscribed to General Henry M. Naglee with His Sword and Scabbard, Officer's Frock Coat, Medals, and Extensive Documentation -A) Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver Around November 1861, Samuel Colt presented several cased sets containing his latest revolver models to a group of leading figures within the Union Army and federal government. These presentations are generally believed to have been part of Colt's efforts to ensure lucrative government arms contracts for his company, but they also demonstrated good faith and support for the Union after recent reports of Colt selling arms to the Confederacy, rumors that he remained a southern sympathizer, and arms deals that appeared to take advantage of American taxpayers. In particular, Ripley and Colt were ensnared in a scandal as the former had authorized the sale of 10,000 "Enfield" rifles to Colt in June of 1861 for just $10 because they were non-standard arms and then later contacted Colt in August to repurchase them for $20 each plus two thousand "Short Enfields" with saber bayonets for $25 each. Colt reportedly instead insisted on $25 each making a $150,000 profit. There may be more to this story than simple corruption. Ripley was well known to have been resistant to the adoption of foreign arms, especially early in the war, and he was also particular about standardization. In this light, his sale of foreign rifle-muskets very early in the war is not shocking, and, after it became clear the war would drag on and the number of Union troops massively increased, those arms became more necessary and thus became more valuable which could explain the increased price. Similar examples of Ripley’s caution early on can be seen in his contacts with Colt concerning revolvers. In May he was discussing deliveries of 500 and 1,000 revolvers. By June, he was requesting 5,000, and by September 17, 1861, he wrote to Colt stating: "Deliver weekly, until further orders, as many of your pistols, holsters, new pattern, as you can make." The known recipients and what their positions were in or around November 1861 are as follows: General James Wolfe Ripley (Chief of Ordnance), General Randolph B. Marcy (McClellan's chief of staff and father-in-law), General Joseph K.F. Mansfield (commanded the Department of Washington), General Irvin McDowell (a division commander in the Army of the Potomac), General Ambrose E. Burnside (commander of the North Carolina Expeditionary Force), General Thomas W. Sherman (commander of the Port Royal Expedition), General Andrew Porter (provost marshal of the District of Columbia), General George B. McClellan (general-in-chief of all the Union armies), General Nathaniel P. Banks (commander of the Western District of Maryland), General Benjamin F. Butler (commander at Fort Monroe), General William Anderson Thornton (commander of multiple arsenals and also an inspector during the war), General Lorenzo Thomas (Adjutant General of the U.S. Army), Colonel James Cameron (brother of the Secretary of War, killed at First Bull Run), Secretary of War Simon Cameron, Edward S. Sanford of the American Telegraph Company who worked with the U.S. Military Telegraph Service/Corps. November 1, 1861, was also significant as the day General George McClellan was promoted to general-in-chief of the Union Armies after Winfield Scott's resignation at the end of October. On Saturday, November 9, 1861, The Hartford Courant reported: “ Hon. Simon Cameron and party, accompanied by Governor Buckingham and staff, the Secretary of State and Senator Dixon, were taken in charge by Col. Colt yesterday forenoon, who conveyed them to his extensive works in Coltsville, where they were shown through his immense manufacturing establishments. The Colonel then conveyed the party to Sharps’ rifle factory, where they examined the renowned rifle arm manufactured by Sharps Rifle Co. After viewing these works, the party were entertained at Col. Colt’s residence, and thence they departed, taking the noon train for New York. Secretary Cameron expressed much satisfaction at what Connecticut had done for the war…” Given the timing, it is very likely some of these sets were presented at that time either at the factory or in Colt's home. Samuel Colt died a little over two months following the presentation of these revolvers on January 10, 1862, making this his last block of presentation revolvers and therefore particularly significant in the history of Colt firearms even besides their connections to various important figures in the government and military during the Civil War. Additional sets were also prepared at this time, apparently for later presentations or special purchases. This is clearly demonstrated by the current pair of Colt Model 1860 Army revolvers which are inscribed “Genl Henry M. Naglee" on the back straps and would have been received by General Naglee at least a few months later than the November presentation revolvers. Their serial numbers, 11681 and 11716, fall within the same range as the fall 1861 presentations, including close to the pair of Model 1860 Army revolvers presented to General Ripley, serial numbers 11684 and 11719. The revolvers of Union General Henry Morris Naglee (1815-1886) fit well-within this overall story and are also accompanied by his officer's sword, frock coat, presentation medals, portraits, and extensive research. Naglee graduated in the Class of 1835 at the United States Military Academy in West Point and was initially assigned to the 5th U.S. Infantry but soon resigned to work as a civil engineer, a trade in high demand as new roads and rail lines spread across the country. He worked in particular on railroad construction in the South, including in Virginia. During the Mexican-American War, Naglee served as the captain of Company D of the 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers and arrived in California by sailing around the southern tip of South America and up to California. He and his men participated in the fight at Todos Santos. Naglee was arrested for ordering the killing of two captured Yaqui Indians, but the matter was dropped, and, after the war, he remained in California and became the commander of the 1st California Guards in San Francisco. During the Gold Rush, he established the first bank in San Francisco, Naglee & Sinton, with former U.S. Army Paymaster Richard H. Sinton. The bank was short lived and closed in September 1850, but Naglee remained active in the real estate business in California and expanded his own property holdings greatly. He also took an interest in horticulture, in particular, viticulture, and in 1858, he traveled to Europe to study. With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Naglee offered his services to the Union. He was originally commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the 16th U.S. Infantry but resigned to instead serve as a brigadier general of volunteers as the commander of a brigade in the IV Corps of the Army of the Potomac and fought during the Peninsula Campaign. Given he is noted as a general in the inscription, the revolvers must have been presented after he became brigadier general of volunteers on February 4, 1862. At the Battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks) near the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, on May 31, 1862, Naglee’s men were hotly engaged and initially held off and counterattacked the Confederates before pulling back to the next defensive lines. During the battle, Naglee's horse was shot out from under him and he received "four contused wounds from musket balls". His reports after the battle gave his men and himself out-sized roles in the inconclusive battle which earned him the ire of some of the other officers. He was later assigned district command positions in North Carolina and Virginia but was relieved of command on September 23, 1863, for refusing to broadly confiscate the property of Virginians who would not take an oath of allegiance to the United States leading to official complaints Union Governor Francis H. Pierpoint. Naglee argued to do so would violate their rights. On September 21, 1863, he was relieved from duty in the Department of Virginia and North Carolina and ordered to report to General Ulysses S. Grant. He was further ordered to await orders in a city of his choice as no suitable command or post was vacant. He was left awaiting orders in Cincinnati, Ohio, until he left the Army on April 4, 1864, and ultimately returned to California. Later that year, he supported McClellan in the election against President Lincoln. In the Santa Clara Valley, Naglee devoted his energies to experimenting with growing a variety of plants, including his vineyard, and developed his own brandy, Naglia, in 1868. His wine and "California Brandy" both won awards at the famous Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. He was involved in romantic scandals, some of which is discussed in the included book "Love Life of General Henry M. Naglee” from 1867. He was married in 1865 to Marie Antoinette Ringgold, whose father George Hays Ringgold had been his friend and worked at the U.S. Mint in San Francisco. They had two daughters, Marie, who was born in 1866, and Antoinette, who was born in 1869. Mrs. Naglee tragically died in 1869 shortly after the birth of their second daughter, and he never remarried. He died at the luxurious Occidental Hotel in San Francisco on March 5, 1886. The historic Naglee Park residential neighborhood in San Jose, California, was formed by his daughters from much of his estate. Naglee’s Colt Model 1860 Army revolvers feature German silver blade front sights, the one-line "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-" barrel addresses, small "COLTS/PATENT" markings on the left side of the frames which are cut for using a shoulder stock and have the slightly protruding "fourth-screws", "44 CAL" on the left side of the trigger guards, the classic Naval Battle of Campeche roll-scene on the distinctive rebated cylinders, "Genl Henry M. Naglee" neatly inscribed down the back straps, and all matching serial numbers including the wedges ("6" struck over "0" on the B wedge) along with the factory dot marking designating special finishing. The grips are deluxe walnut with a high gloss varnish finish. They come in a rare factory double presentation case with brass corners and lid escutcheon, a fitted interior, two cap tins, four cartridge packs, loose bullets, a "44 H" and "COLT'S/PATENT" marked blued bullet mold, "COLTS/PATENT" martial pattern powder flask with sloped charger, L-shaped combination tool, and key. The cased set remained within Naglee's family until they were sold along with the included Fair Oaks medals (listed below) to Greg Martin. He loaned them for a display in an exhibit on General Naglee at the California Historical Society in San Francisco and sold them to Greg Lampe in 2003 (documentation from the purchase included). The set is featured and discussed on pages 378-379 of "The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver" by Charles Pate and is also described in "The Colt Engraving Book, Volume I" by R. L. Wilson on page 157. In addition to the cased revolvers, the lot includes other items from Naglee's career. Naglee's Ames Model 1840 Foot Infantry officer's sword features a 31 1/4-inch blade with patriotic and foliate etching along with "Ames Mfg Co/Chicopee/Mass" above the right ricasso and "Brig. Genl Henry M. Naglee" on the left. The brass hilt features further foliate and patriotic martial motifs, a folding languet, and wire wrapped silvered grip. The scabbard has a blued body and gilt brass mounts. Naglee can be seen wearing the same sword pattern, likely this very sword, in multiple portraits. The Civil War regulation brigadier general's frock coat is marked "H. M. Naglee" on the back of the hanging loop, is constructed of high-quality blue broadcloth, and has "Horstmann Bros. & Co. Phil." marked buttons, a modern label added noting it has been moth proofed, and loosely pinned brigadier general shoulder boards. This coat was also loaned by General Naglee's family for the exhibit at the California Historical Society. Also included is a "PARIS: 1864" marked case with a pair of medals, one gold and one bronze. On one side, Naglee is portrayed with his sword drawn while still partially mounted on his downed horse. "FAIR OAKS" is at the top, and "31 MAY 1862" and "MERLEY. F." are at the bottom. The back has "TO/GEN. H. NAGLEE/A TOKEN/OF ADMIRATION/AND RESPECT/FOR HIS/GALLANT SERVICES" at center and "THE PENINSULA * CHICKAHOMINY * THE CAROLINAS *" around the outside. Also accompanying the lot are three massive volumes of research compiled by Greg Lampe as well as portraits of the general. Among the vast number of documents is an original note written by General Naglee during the Civil War as well as copies of documents from his career.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1860 Army

BBL: 8 inch round

Gauge: 44

Finish: blue/casehardened/silver

Grips: walnut

Serial Number11681

Class: Antique

B) Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver As described in "A".

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1860 Army

BBL: 8 inch round

Gauge: 44

Finish: blue/casehardened/silver

Grips: walnut

Serial Number11716

Class: Antique

  • Condition: A) Exceptionally fine with crisp inscription and markings, 60% plus original blue finish remaining, some flaking from resting in the case for many years, 80% vibrant original case colors, 85% plus of the original silver plating which displays attractively aged patina, and fairly minor overall wear mostly from age and handling. The grip is exceptionally fine and has nearly all of the varnish remaining and minor handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. The case and cased accessories are very fine with generally minor age and storage relating wear such as fading on the lining. Most of the original finish remains on the excellent flask and mold. The sword and scabbard are fine with 90% plus of the blue finish remaining on the scabbard body, silver-gray patina along the blade, distinct etching and designs, minor age and storage related wear, and mix of gilt finish and aged patina on the brass. The frock coat is very good with some small repairs, mothing, and fairly minor overall wear considering its age and period of use. The medals are exceptionally fine and have minor age and storage related wear, and the medal case has mild wear. B) Exceptionally fine with 80% plus original blue finish remaining on the barrel and cylinder which display minor loss from age and storage, strong original blue on the protected areas of the back strap which is otherwise cleaned to a mottled gray patina, 90% plus vibrant original case colors, 70% plus original silver plating with attractively aged patina, and minor overall wear. The grip is very and retains most of the original high gloss varnish and displays attractive figure and some minor dings and scratches. The hand spring needs work, but the revolver functions fine with the muzzle lowered. This is an extraordinary lot featuring a stunning pair of presentation cased and inscribed Colt Model 1860 Army revolvers, an Ames officer's sword, and named officer's frock all owned by General Henry M. Naglee who left behind his comfortable life in California to risk his life in the service of the Union during the American Civil War.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000