Historic Silver and Gold-Plated Smith & Wesson Model No. 2 "Old Army" Revolver Inscribed to a Civil War Union Veteran with Case and Factory Letter Offered here is a S&W No. 2 Army revolver inscribed to Major George P. Laurence. An 1860 Harvard Law School graduate, Major Laurence served as a paymaster for a brief stint with the U.S. Volunteers during the Civil War for the 5th and 13th New York Cavalry and 58th, 68th, 119th and 141st New York State Volunteers before being honorably discharged on May 3, 1864. Major Laurence returned to Massachusetts with the muster rolls of the aforementioned New York units. These documents were at some point in time given to the Massachusetts National Guard and remained there until being rediscovered and transferred to the New York State Archives in February 2006. Major Laurence was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on April 23, 1836, married in late 1874 to Belle Richmond who gave birth to his two daughters and died from pneumonia on December 15, 1907. The inscription is on the left side plate and reads, "Major Geor. P. Laurence/Presented by his friends/Boston Sept. 1863." The barrel rib has the one-line S&W Springfield address marking. Matching assembly marks are stamped on the barrel, cylinder and grip frame, and the right grip panel is numbered to the gun. The cylinder has the patent dates marking and is plated in the gold. The remaining surfaces are plated in silver. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver with a 6 inch barrel and smooth rosewood grips when it was invoiced to J.W. Storrs, New York City on August 27, 1863, as part of a 50 gun shipment. The letter also states that the factory invoice indicates that the revolver was plated and blue, meaning a silver frame and barrel with a blued cylinder, and delivered to Boston, the city of Major Laurence's presentation several weeks later, where it was presumably inscribed by a local engraver and presented to Major Laurence. The partitioned deluxe case is lined in velvet and contains a case key, oiler and screwdriver. A truly outstanding-in-every-way Civil War Model No. 2 Army. Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson Model: 2 Army BBL: 6 inch solid rib Stock: Gauge: 32 RF Finish: silver/gold Grips: rosewood Serial Number: 16020 Class: Antique Condition: Extremely fine as period embellished. The revolver retains 98% silver plating showing a few scattered areas of flaking. The cylinder retains 95% thinned gold plating. The grips are excellent showing some minor scratches and retaining nearly all of the varnish. Mechanically excellent. The deluxe case is fine showing a number of fine scratches on the exterior.

  • Condition: See Description

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We will arrange for packing and shipping at our earliest possible convenience. We will attempt to ship as soon as possible, however, due to the huge volume of absentee bidders, delays in shipping of seven days after full payment is received by us is typical. In the case of crating or any exceptional packaging, the buyer will be charged our cost from outside agents. Buyer pays all shipping and insurance charges.

by Rock Island Auction Company
December 2, 2017 9:00 AM CST
7819 42nd Street West
Rock Island, IL, US 61201

Rock Island Auction Company

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

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 + $10,000