Iron Brigade (?) Lieutenant’s Epaulets * 24th Infantry *

 

 

 

 

20-07-01    24th Regiment Infantry Lieutenant’s Epaulets:  I purchased these last month at auction.  As shown they are a regulation set of Union Army Infantry First Lieutenant’s epaulets in excellent condition with brilliant bullion and no damage.  Interestingly, but not at all unusual, is the presence of eagle A buttons on these infantry officer’s epaulets.   As most states had more than 24 regiments of infantry these could have been worn by a lieutenant from any one of them.  The most famous 24th Infantry was Henry Morrow’s 24th Michigan, Iron Brigade.  And these are TOTALLY appropriate for display with 24th Michigan or Iron Brigade artifacts.  But if you collect 24th Mass artifacts these will show off nicely in that display as well.  The number 24 conjures mental images of The Iron Brigade in most collectors’ imaginations.  $495.00

*******************************************

 

ENFIELD SOCKET BAYONET US OR CSA USED

Engraved with a Rack or Export Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

20-07-02   P 1853 British Enfield Socket Bayonet   The standard issue bayonet for the .577 caliber Enfield 3-band infantry rifle musket as carried by tens of thousands of soldiers North and South.  Overall VG to fine condition with generous remnants of original arsenal blue still present.  Profusely marked and inspected.  Bears an engraved number 92 in large numerals on the socket.  This engraving is very much like the engraved export numbers we see on the butt plates of the Enfields shipped to the Confederacy.  However I believe it is most likely a company “Rack Number” as it is only two digits and it is much higher quality incising than we generally see on the CSA muskets.  $135.00 SOLD

******************************************

ROLLIN WHITE MADE FOR SMITH AND WESSON 22 CALIBER REVOLVER

 

 

 

 

20-07-03  ROLLIN WHITE 22  CALIBER REVOLVER MADE FOR SMITH & WESSON: 

Rollin White will be familiar to arms collectors from his patents for a bored-through cylinder, which was a great thing for Smith and Wesson and a pain in the ass to lots of other gun makers. When Smith and Wesson could not keep up with demand at the beginning of the Civil War, White formed his own company to manufacture these .22 caliber rimfire pocket revolvers for Smith and Wesson. The production ran to about 5,000 before White left the company in 1864, which then changed its name. This is a nice example of his work with the frame retaining about 90 percent of its silver finish and having a crisp “Made for Smith & Wesson, By Rollin White…” barrel stamp. The barrel is smooth metal with a mottled gray and brown color that shows some thin blue-turned-plum. The cylinder, blued originally, is plum as well, with a lighter drag line. The grips are very good, with nice dark color, tight fit, and just one small white paint fleck. The frame screw head shows some wear to the slot and there is little freckling to the silver just forward of the cylinder.

 

These are nice, compact pocket pistols that were handy for travelers and sometimes show up in photographs tucked in the belts of early Civil War volunteers as well.

$495.00  SOLD

 

 

Artillery Ammo Crate Converted to Camp Chest or Desk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20-07-04  ARTILLERY AMMUNITION CRATE:    Civil War ammunition crates of any sort are scarce. Their contents were far more important in battle and afterward they were too useful for kindling. A few have been saved, like this one, by soldiers needing a camp chest, desk, or just a shipping crate. This has loads of its original olive green pain and legible stenciling on the sides and top indicating it held, “Fixed Ammn / 8 Rounds / 12 Pdr / Solid Shot.” So, if you are looking for a great artillery ammo crate, this is for you. It has the extra benefit of a very early war sharp stencil on the underside of the lid reading, “Watertown Arsnl. / August 1861.”

This was converted to a field desk or chest by simply adding two hinges and fitting a hasp to the top and top front.  The original handles are present, too. The soldier simply rotated them to a vertical position and drilled out a hole for a rope handle to pass through. The repositioning of the handles vertically tells me this crate was used as a field desk.  The new position of the handles would insure the contents of the desk remained in place.

A brown ink label is tacked to the top: “G.D. Hayes / 2110 Avenue I / Flatbush / Brooklyn N.Y.” This could be George D. Hayes of Brooklyn, who enlisted in the 51^st NY in February 1864 in New York City, and deserted twelve days later in Albany, perhaps deciding that someone had already sent him an ammo crate and army life held more attractions, but we leave further research to the next owner.

This would look great in an artillery collection next to some 12-Pound Napoleon gear, or as part of c amp display showing how soldiers made their winter huts a bit more comfortable. In any case, this is in wonderful condition with very strong visual appeal.  Ammunition crates in this fine original condition and so profusely marked are very rare.  You will look long and hard to find another.  $1,750.00 SOLD

**********************************************************

Pre 1863 Two Blade Patriotic Folding Bowie Knife

 

 

 

 

 

20-07-05 TWO BLADE PATRIOTIC FOLDING BOWIE KNIFE PRE 1864: 

This is a very scarce TWO-BLADED patriotic folding knife made explicitly for the American market by a British maker who was out of business in 1863. Blade is signed Tillotson Columbia Place Sheffield.   This form shows up as early as the 1840s and features wood slab grips with a German silver crossguard and pommel. In this case the crossguard bears a foliate scroll with the words “LIBERTY” and “AND. UNION” with leaves draping down over the center, almost touching the floral ends of the scroll at the bottom. The pommel bears a large Liberty Cap at top, superimposed on a sword and the scales of Justice. A small small cluster of stars appears just below that, above the neck of an American eagle with arrows and olive branch, and the panel ends at bottom with a U.S. shield with the ends of a wreath rising on either side.

 

The knife shows some use and wear from handling, but just one narrow crack in the wood just below the guard. The blades are very good, with some slight brown spots that might clean. This is rare, rare, rare with the double blade and is plainly aimed at the northern market at the beginning of the Civil War.

 

$1,250.00  SOLD

 

Large Plant Army Revolver

 

 

 

20-07-06 LARGE FRAME PLANT ARMY REVOLVER:   This is a very nice large frame Plant Army Revolver with lots of thin silver left on the brass frame and traces of barrel blue. This has a crisp “Merwin and Bray. New-York” agent’s stamp on the left barrel flat and is the Third Model with a squared front to the frame. The grips are very good, with a tight fit to the frame and scattered handling marks, but good color and no deep gouges. The frame has about 85 percent thin silver, toned down bit still evident at silver. The barrel has smooth metal with good edges and significant sections of thin blue, stronger and most noticeable of course in the recesses of the sighting rib. Cylinder pin, ejector rod, etc., are all in place. The mechanism is good. These .42 caliber pistols fired a self-contained metallic cartridge that loaded through the front of the cylinder to get around the Rollin White patents for bored-through cylinders. The company made about 8,000 of this pattern, and some 20,000 of their smaller pocket revolvers. Plant’s army revolvers offered same benefits as the Smith and Wesson, using metallic cartridges that would not get damaged by moisture or require percussion caps, but they had the advantage over Smith and Wesson in offering  a larger caliber with a bigger punch and are known as private purchases by Civil War officers.  $1,350.00  SOLD

***************************************

 

Striking 1861 Quality Lithograph Beardless Lincoln and all the previous presidents.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20-07-07  Very High Quality 1861 Patriotic Beardless Lincoln Litho:  Roughly 7 x 9 inches housed in a handsome original 1860s wall frame.  Top quality with crisp detail to all the portraits.  About perfect condition.  Significant historically because the likeness of Lincoln is the rare and youthful beardless Abe Lincoln. Signed on lower left “Sold by Lange and Kronfeld  201 William Street NEW YORK”   An elegant piece of wall covering suitable for any room in the house.  This will be 160 years old next year, so let’s say ……..   $160.00  SOLD

*************************************

 

Regulation Copper Single Twist Army Bugle

 

 

 

20-07-08  Identified Union Army Bugle from The Ron Tunison Collection:  Very fine condition as shown.  Has unit markings stamped into the bell garland.  First mark is 104 R.  The second may be a date of 1862 but the top of the numerals are not visible. Carries a collection tag from famed artist, sculptor, and collector Ron Tunison that reads “Bugle Id to James & Michael Conlin”  You get to have the research fun.  These single twist copper army bugles have always been scarce, and are really rare in 2020.  Somehow Ron knew there was some history connected to two members of the Conlin family, which may well have been spelled Conlon.  But he did not explain any more than what he wrote on the tag.  Great bugle, great condition, great price…  $1,950.00 SOLD TIME PMTS