DALLAS, TX.- A rare Confederate revolver, one of only about 1,000 of its kind, will find a new home when it is sold in Heritage Auctions’ Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature Auction June 6.

The Scarce Confederate Rigdon, Ansley & Co. C.S.A. Single Action Revolver (estimate: $20,000-30,000) is a rare Confederate revolver made by Charles H. Rigdon after the Leech & Rigdon firm was disbanded, according to research. The .36 caliber firearm features a 7-1/2-inch octagonal/round barrel with fixed front sight and a blued finish; the 12-stop cylinder was copied from Manhattan Arms. Co.

“It’s a Confederate revolver, which are always scarce and highly collectible,” Heritage Auctions Historical Consignment Director David Carde said. “This comes from the mid-1860s, toward the end of the Civil War, which also was the time when Rigdon separated from Leech & Rigdon. They only made approximately 1,000 of them, compared to the popular .36 caliber Colt 1851 Navy, which manufactured over 200,000 examples from 1850-73 and was among the heavily-used revolvers in the Civil War.”




Other highlights in the sale include, but are not limited to:

• An Extensively Decorated Pair of Turkish Walklate Flintlock Pistols (estimate: $10,000+), a pair of unserialized, approximately .64 caliber weapons with 13-inch octagonal and round damascus barrels with decorative gilt accents at breech, barrel transition and muzzle. The English locks are marked: WALKLATE (which operated in London from 181315). The pair reportedly was bought in an Old Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, around 1951 by the consignor’s father-in-law, Dr. Michael J. Hansinger.

• A magnificent Etched and Gilded Spanish Morion-Cabasset (estimate: $8,000+), a dome-shaped steel helmet that stands approximately 12-1/2 inches high. This beautiful helmet, with elaborate etching and gilding over the dome, likely worn is a presentation or parade helmet, is remarkable and appealing in part because it is constructed from a single piece. According to Stone's Glossary, “The name is Italian and means pear, and the little point is supposed to represent the stem.”

• A [D-Day and the Normandy Invasion]: United States Naval Ensign Flag and Personal Effects of Jerome Foley PT-Boat Squadron 30 PT-461 (estimate: $8,000+) comes from Foley (1923-2002), a crew member (Torpedoman's Mate 2nd class) on the PT-461 Motor Torpedo Boat (the “Summa”) at the time of the D-Day invasion of Normandy June 6, 1944; it arrived in England June 7, and joined other boats from Squadron 30 on the “Mason Line” three days later. PT-461 later rescued the survivors of the USS William D. Burnham, off Cherbourg, France, Nov. 23, 1944. The group includes: (1) 51-by-28-inch U.S. 48-star flag marked “ESN 11” on the hoist; (2) Khaki canvas duffle bag marked “J. L. Foley/ M. T. B. Ron 30/ USN.” (3) A 10-by-8-inch folding leather personal grooming case stamped “J.L.F.”; (4) a 7-by-3-1/2-inch canvas “Medical Officers Case” (in which tools are not present); (5) a pair of canvas leggings. 6) a blue wool sailor's dress tunic and trousers, thrice-inscribed with Foley's name; (7) Foley's cap, tunic and trousers (Navy "whites"), and (8) a Tin container for “Goggle Variable Density” stenciled "PT 461." A file of research material accompanies the artifacts.

• A Pennsylvania Volunteers Gold ID Badge (estimate: $3,000+), a gold shield measuring 18 by 20 millimeters with a blue enamel clover (2nd Army Corps), engraved: "Thos. Tyndal/ 2nd Lieut./ Co. F. 130th. P. V." T-bar attachment on verso. Tyndal served from Aug. 9, 1862 to May 21, 1863 with the regiment that fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.