Page 48 - Antiques and Collectibles September 2019 Historic Hudson Valley
P. 48
by John Sexton
I found this revolver in a friend’s grand- they were delivered in late 1861; this is one of those 100 guns.
Q:
parents’ basement and am helping him find Unfortunately, your gun has some condition issues with
the value of this piece. It reads “B.F. Joslyn rust and pitting from being poorly stored in the basement.
PATD May 4th 1858” and “USN” at the It appears to have a fair amount of original bright blue
A Joslyn Navy revolver, bottom. Thank you for your help! finish which possibly a professional gunsmith could clean and
about $3,000. enhance. By NRA standards for antique arms, this revolver
Your revolver is a Joslyn patented .44 grades NRA good. A gray metal gun, also an NRA good
JS:
caliber army revolver. There were about example, serial number 158, sold at Rock Island Auctions
3,000 made for the US Army, the Navy, on May 3, 2019, for $3,163. The same gun without the
and the civilian market early in the USN marking would sell for about half this figure.
American Civil War. Only about 100 Congratulations on finding a good Civil War revolver with
guns were purchased by the Navy, and very rare US naval markings.
I read of your offer for a free appraisal for Civil War items. Please see the attached The reunion ribbons are very popular, and those with flags or insignia decor-
Q:
photos, and let me know if you have any questions. I look ations are the most desirable. This group of six of the 28th NY
forward to your response. & 151st would sell between $100
and $150 in most venues.
The two small paper items in the photos are typically The Civil War state commission
JS:
called “broadside verse” in the trade. You have one exam- signed by Governor Dennison of
ple of a caric-ature and another for recruiting. They’re Ohio has a value of about $25
both interesting, and similar examples can be found either unless the soldier has an interesting
sold in auction or priced history. Then, it could bring more.
by dealers between $25 A caricature broadside about
and $100 depending on Jefferson Davis called, “Jeff Six Union reunion Pennsylvania recruitment
the venue. in Petticoats,” $25-$100. ribbons, $100-$150. broadside, $25-$100.
I hope you can help me out. I recently purchased this knife lot at an auction. Your knife is old but not Civil War. It appears to be World War II Era. The
Q: JS:
I have done lots of researching but have had no luck other than the Bowie is from CSA markings have been added and are not original to manufacture. It is not
the Confederate States of America. I hope you can help or share some infor- uncommon to see well-worn, old knives with little value with added
mation concerning this knife. The photos here are for the Bowie knife. markings put on them to be sold at flea markets and certain auction
Overall length is 15.25 inches; the blade is 10 inches. One side of the ricasso venues passed off as Civil War. The old WW II Era fighting knife, with-
is stamped “C S A,” Confederate States of out the added markings, can be found for
America. I was hoping you can tell me what about $20-$30.
the other side is stamped with and what it
means. I think it is stamped “VG VW.” I’m
not sure. Honestly, I don't even know if it’s WW2 knife and Fake Markings on Knife:
authentic. I would really appreciate it if you An old WWII-era knife with fake Civil War
can tell me more about this knife. markings, $20-$30.
My name is David, and I have a Columbia, SC sword I purchased at a flea market, ies that have been seen in the Civil War market for many years. This is one of the
Q:
and I was wondering if it is original. It looks old and smells like all old military things easiest swords for fakers to make as all they have to do is stamp or etch “Columbia
always do. Here are some photos, and if you can give me any info, it would be great. SC” on the ricasso. I have seen numerous fake examples over the years, but I have
The sword has three sets of either three slice marks or Roman numerals like “III” on the never seen the correct Schnitzler & Kirschbaum (S & K) pattern with a fake
pommel, handguard, and top of the scabbard throat. It also has nicks in the blade that stamp. All known original and authentic Palmetto cavalry sabers are S & K type 1
could be from another sword blade hitting it. The sabers which have a few distinct characteristics which your sword does not have.
scabbard is folded at the bottom but a bit to the side, William Glaze, who ran the Palmetto Armory in Columbia, SC, delivered
sauntered. If you can tell me what you think it would be, swords, muskets, rifles, and pistols to the State of South Carolina under 1851 or
I would appreciate it. 1852 contracts. Average nice “as-found” Palmetto cavalries can sell for about
$4,000-$5,000 with good marking. An average unmarked import 1840 cavalry
Your saber appears to be saber sells for $300-$400 in the same condition. Your sword also appears to have
JS:
a standard German-made a restored grip which, if unmarked, similar examples sell at auction typically for
Civil War Era cavalry saber, $200-$300.
but the “Columbia, SC” There are lots of fakes, and a big premium is paid for just a marking on the
markings are not made ricasso. Most of the new fake examples I see are not correct. Caveat emptor,
from the correct die. This is “let the buyer beware.”
one of the numerous forger-
This is the correct and real A Civil War Era saber but with
marking for this sword. fake markings, $200-$300
John Sexton is an independent appraiser and expert of Civil War memorabilia. He is an accredited member of various appraiser organizations.
He can be contacted at 770-329-4984 or www.CivilWarDealer.com. For a free appraisal of a Civil War item, email a photo and a de scription
to mclwriter@gmail.com.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
46
I found this revolver in a friend’s grand- they were delivered in late 1861; this is one of those 100 guns.
Q:
parents’ basement and am helping him find Unfortunately, your gun has some condition issues with
the value of this piece. It reads “B.F. Joslyn rust and pitting from being poorly stored in the basement.
PATD May 4th 1858” and “USN” at the It appears to have a fair amount of original bright blue
A Joslyn Navy revolver, bottom. Thank you for your help! finish which possibly a professional gunsmith could clean and
about $3,000. enhance. By NRA standards for antique arms, this revolver
Your revolver is a Joslyn patented .44 grades NRA good. A gray metal gun, also an NRA good
JS:
caliber army revolver. There were about example, serial number 158, sold at Rock Island Auctions
3,000 made for the US Army, the Navy, on May 3, 2019, for $3,163. The same gun without the
and the civilian market early in the USN marking would sell for about half this figure.
American Civil War. Only about 100 Congratulations on finding a good Civil War revolver with
guns were purchased by the Navy, and very rare US naval markings.
I read of your offer for a free appraisal for Civil War items. Please see the attached The reunion ribbons are very popular, and those with flags or insignia decor-
Q:
photos, and let me know if you have any questions. I look ations are the most desirable. This group of six of the 28th NY
forward to your response. & 151st would sell between $100
and $150 in most venues.
The two small paper items in the photos are typically The Civil War state commission
JS:
called “broadside verse” in the trade. You have one exam- signed by Governor Dennison of
ple of a caric-ature and another for recruiting. They’re Ohio has a value of about $25
both interesting, and similar examples can be found either unless the soldier has an interesting
sold in auction or priced history. Then, it could bring more.
by dealers between $25 A caricature broadside about
and $100 depending on Jefferson Davis called, “Jeff Six Union reunion Pennsylvania recruitment
the venue. in Petticoats,” $25-$100. ribbons, $100-$150. broadside, $25-$100.
I hope you can help me out. I recently purchased this knife lot at an auction. Your knife is old but not Civil War. It appears to be World War II Era. The
Q: JS:
I have done lots of researching but have had no luck other than the Bowie is from CSA markings have been added and are not original to manufacture. It is not
the Confederate States of America. I hope you can help or share some infor- uncommon to see well-worn, old knives with little value with added
mation concerning this knife. The photos here are for the Bowie knife. markings put on them to be sold at flea markets and certain auction
Overall length is 15.25 inches; the blade is 10 inches. One side of the ricasso venues passed off as Civil War. The old WW II Era fighting knife, with-
is stamped “C S A,” Confederate States of out the added markings, can be found for
America. I was hoping you can tell me what about $20-$30.
the other side is stamped with and what it
means. I think it is stamped “VG VW.” I’m
not sure. Honestly, I don't even know if it’s WW2 knife and Fake Markings on Knife:
authentic. I would really appreciate it if you An old WWII-era knife with fake Civil War
can tell me more about this knife. markings, $20-$30.
My name is David, and I have a Columbia, SC sword I purchased at a flea market, ies that have been seen in the Civil War market for many years. This is one of the
Q:
and I was wondering if it is original. It looks old and smells like all old military things easiest swords for fakers to make as all they have to do is stamp or etch “Columbia
always do. Here are some photos, and if you can give me any info, it would be great. SC” on the ricasso. I have seen numerous fake examples over the years, but I have
The sword has three sets of either three slice marks or Roman numerals like “III” on the never seen the correct Schnitzler & Kirschbaum (S & K) pattern with a fake
pommel, handguard, and top of the scabbard throat. It also has nicks in the blade that stamp. All known original and authentic Palmetto cavalry sabers are S & K type 1
could be from another sword blade hitting it. The sabers which have a few distinct characteristics which your sword does not have.
scabbard is folded at the bottom but a bit to the side, William Glaze, who ran the Palmetto Armory in Columbia, SC, delivered
sauntered. If you can tell me what you think it would be, swords, muskets, rifles, and pistols to the State of South Carolina under 1851 or
I would appreciate it. 1852 contracts. Average nice “as-found” Palmetto cavalries can sell for about
$4,000-$5,000 with good marking. An average unmarked import 1840 cavalry
Your saber appears to be saber sells for $300-$400 in the same condition. Your sword also appears to have
JS:
a standard German-made a restored grip which, if unmarked, similar examples sell at auction typically for
Civil War Era cavalry saber, $200-$300.
but the “Columbia, SC” There are lots of fakes, and a big premium is paid for just a marking on the
markings are not made ricasso. Most of the new fake examples I see are not correct. Caveat emptor,
from the correct die. This is “let the buyer beware.”
one of the numerous forger-
This is the correct and real A Civil War Era saber but with
marking for this sword. fake markings, $200-$300
John Sexton is an independent appraiser and expert of Civil War memorabilia. He is an accredited member of various appraiser organizations.
He can be contacted at 770-329-4984 or www.CivilWarDealer.com. For a free appraisal of a Civil War item, email a photo and a de scription
to mclwriter@gmail.com.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
46
