2020 September Premier, Volume I

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Rock Island Auction Company® Proudly Presents the Incredibly Historic & Iconic "Floyd Navy"The Curt McClymond Collection134LOT 135Historic Cased “National Treasure” Gustave Young Deluxe FactoryEngraved Colt Factory Presentation Model 1851 Navy PercussionRevolver Inscribed from Colonel Colt’s Workmen to U.S. Secretary ofWar and Future Civil War Confederate General John B. Floyd withDocuments - Serial no. 63838, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, highly figured varnished walnut grips. Rock IslandAuction Company proudly presents the incredibly iconic “Floyd Navy.” Theengraving was executed by master engraver Gustave Young and has hisclassic deluxe style with floral blooms and animal heads among the highlydetailed scroll engraving. Note the dog head among the scrolls on the leftside of the barrel and classic wolf/dog head on the hammer, typicalfeatures of Gustave Young’s work. The overall pattern is the classic styleperfected by Young. The inscription on the back strap reads, “To Hon J.B.Floyd/From Col. Colts Workmen.” A second presentation inscription isfeatured on the front strap and reads, “Peter Otey from Gen. Floyd.” Therevolver has an apostrophe marked by the matching serial numbers on thebarrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap indicating factory engraving.The cylinder, wedge and arbor pin are also numbered to the gun. The leftside of the frame is stamped “COLTS/PATENT” above “US.” The revolver fallsin the 42000-80000 serial number range of Model 1851s which werepurchased by the U.S. Army prior to the Civil War. This revolver wasmanufactured in 1856. It is fitted with a dovetail type front sight. The topbarrel flat is marked “-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-”. The cylinderhas the naval battle scene along with scrollwork at the rear. Fitted with anicely figured deluxe walnut grip with varnish finish. The partitioned casecontains a sealed Eley Brothers cap tin, a sealed package of six seamlessskin Navy cartridges, a “COLT’S/PATENT” double face powder flask featuringa patriotic/military motif, a blued “COLT’S/PATENT” dual cavity bullet mold,and some lead balls. Includes a 2012 dated Bobby Smith Antique gunsreceipt (copy) for the revolver. The revolver is pictured and identified in R.L.Wilson’s “Fine Colts: The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection” on pages 38-39.The revolver was also exhibited in “Samuel Colt Presents” at the WadsworthAthenaeum in 1961-62 and is pictured and identified in the book of thesame title on page 245. It is also photographed in the iconic 1970s TexasGun Annual from the collection of Dr. Robert Nelson, whom also onceowned the famous “Millikin Dragoon”. This revolver is one of 3 Coltpresentation arms along with a shoulder stock presented to Floyd asdocumented in “Samuel Colt Presents” (pages 241-246). As R.L. Wilsonexplains, “The [Colt factory] gift consisted ofat least a Third Model Dragoon with matching shoulderstock (number 16467), a Model 1849 Pocket revolver (number 113858),the Model 1851 Navy, and a Sidehammer revolving rifle (number 1935).Possibly more pieces were involved…[but] records are incomplete. Allitems in the set were engraved and inscribed, excepting no inscription waspresent on the back strap of the Dragoon.” Wilson attributed the engravingto Gustave Young. According to Wilson, “Young was one of the factoryworkmen who journeyed to Washington, D.C., for personal presentation ofthe set to Floyd.” The presentation occurred in 1857. Samuel Colt was amaster salesman above all his other attributes, and he found that the bestkind of advertising that he could employ to promote his products were theproducts themselves. He handed out finely engraved and inscribedpresentation guns to anyone he thought to be a worthy recipient. One ofhis guns placed in the hands of an influential person, believed Colt, wouldgo a long way in winning support and acceptance of his products. AsSecretary of War during the U.S. President James Buchanan administrationfrom 1857 to 1860, John Floyd was the perfect candidate for a set of Coltpresentation arms that originally included this Model 1851. John B. Floyd(1806-1863) studied law at South Carolina College, and after graduating in1829, set up his own law practice in Abingdon, Virginia. This was to be abrief venture as he soon left Abingdon with one of his brothers forArkansas where they invested in a cotton plantation. In the beginning thecotton enterprise was profitable, but the Panic of 1837 left Floyd in debtand as a result he lost the plantation. Making matters worse was aninfectious disease outbreak that killed most of his slaves and nearly killedhim. He returned to practicing law in Abingdon. By the late 1840s Floyd, aDemocrat, was involved in state politics. He was elected to the GeneralAssembly in 1847 and in 1849 was elected governor, a position his fatherheld during the Nat Turner Insurrection. An original land deed from 1850signed by Floyd when he was governor is included as well as a carte devisite of Floyd. In 1857, President James Buchanan appointed Floydsecretary of war, a reward for aiding Buchanan during the presidentialcampaign. Floyd’s tenure with the War Department was generally viewedas corrupt; he was accused of orchestrating shady government contracts.His decision to appoint a family member as quartermaster general of thearmy over senior officials created many enemies including futureConfederate General Robert E. Lee and President Jefferson Davis, and thedispute followed him to Richmond. Floyd resigned from the WarDepartment on December 29, 1860. He disagreed with Buchanan over thehandling of Major Robert Anderson’s occupation of Fort Sumner, wasaccused of secretly transferring arms and munitions from Northern toSouthern arsenals in preparation of the Civil War, and was accused andlater exonerated of taking part in a bonds scandal at the Department ofPRESIDENT BUCHANAN AND HIS CABINET FROM LEFT TORIGHT: JACOB THOMPSON, LEWIS CASS, JOHN B. FLOYD,JAMES BUCHANAN, HOWELL COBB, ISAAC TOUCEY,JOSEPH HOLT AND JEREMIAH S. BLACK (C. 1859)the Interior. In late May 1861, Floyd was appointed brigadier general in theConfederate army and spent most of the summer and autumn of 1861quarreling with fellow former Virginia governor Brigadier General HenryWise before being assigned commander of Fort Donelson in Tennessee. Hearrived at Fort Donelson just as the fort was under attack by Union navaland army forces commanded by Ulysses S. Grant. While Floyd may havebeen a horrible Secretary of War, he was an even worse military tactician.Historians have argued that Floyd’s lack of leadership played a significantrole in the Union’s first major victory. With little military experience, Floyddeferred most of the decision making to his experienced subordinates,Brigadier Generals Gideon Pillow and Simon Buckner. Union forces laidsiege, resulting in a furious fight as the Confederate forces attemptedbreak out. As the tide of the battle was turning in the favor of theConfederacy, the order was given for the Southern troops to return to theirentrenchments. Grant took full advantage of the confusion and indecisionthat befell Floyd’s forces by launching a counterattack that resulted in theretaking of lost ground as well as gaining new footholds. Floyd and Pillowturned command of the fort to Buckner and escaped with about 2,000men to Nashville. Buckner surrendered to Grant who demanded, “No termsexcept an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.” Forthe rest of his life Floyd claimed that he escaped because if captured hewould have been hanged as a traitor due to the controversy surroundinghis time as Secretary of War just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War and itwas futile to defend “the naked fort,” as he called it, from the Union’sonslaught. Included in this lot is a March 25, 1862 dated letter written byFloyd and addressed to the Honorable Henry S. Foote, Chairman VirginiaHouse of Representatives. The four page letter is Floyd’s defense for thedefeat at Fort Donelson. This letter is pictured with the revolver in “FineColts.” In conjunction with the capture of Fort Henry, the Battle of FortDonelson was the first major Union victory and forced the South to give upsouthern Kentucky and much of Middle and West Tennessee. The riversand railways in the area became vital Northern supply lines in theWestern Theater.
"Floyd, the Secretary of War, scattered the army so that much of it could be captured whenhostilities should commence, and distributed the cannon and small arms from Northernarsenals throughout the South so as to be on hand when treason wanted them."Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant
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Real Art • Real History • Real
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From the Legendary Robert M. Lee Co
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1. TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SALE. The
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2020, whooaaa, where to begin outsi
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Is Framedvery pinnacle of firearms
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 3Desirable G
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Rare Documented Wilkinson & Sons En
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 7New Haven A
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The Dr. Gerald Klaz CollectionLOT 1
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Originally Manufactured by Smith &
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Magnificent Deluxe First Model Fact
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Attractive Presentation Inscribed D
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Historically Significant New Haven
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The Dr. Gerald Klaz CollectionSIMIL
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDThe Corner Stone
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Incredibly Rare, Factory Engraved U
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LOT 24Historically Significant “A
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Investment Class Winchester First M
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Stunning Special Order Winchester D
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Excellent Investment Quality Winche
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Phenomenal, Fresh & Incredibly Rare
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Big game hunter Wilkinson (1913-200
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He remained governor-general until
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 43Winchester
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Exceptional Winchester Model 1886 L
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56LOT 50Documented Like 1 of 1,000E
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 51Fine Docum
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60ENGRAVING PATTERNILLUSTRATED IN T
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Benchmark Condition, Investment Qua
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The Robert M. Lee CollectionLOT 55P
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John FoxTHECOLLECTIONA CELEBRATION
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The John Fox CollectionLOT 56Histor
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Legion ofFrontiersmenThe John Fox C
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Desirable San Antonio, Texas Shippe
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Factory Engraved Austin, Texas Ship
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A truly inspiring gun withcharacter
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Montana Territory Shipped "Frontier
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The John Fox CollectionLOT 63Beauti
Page 85 and 86: The John Fox CollectionCONDITION: F
Page 88 and 89: BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 66Rare Hopki
Page 91: BOTH SIDESPICTUREDLOT 71“Western
Page 94 and 95: The John Fox Collection92LOT 75Fact
Page 96: The John Fox Collection94LOT 77Rare
Page 101 and 102: BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 80Civil War
Page 104: BOTH SIDESPICTUREDThe John Fox Coll
Page 108: BOTH SIDES PICTUREDThe John Fox Col
Page 111 and 112: 26”LOT 92Special Order Winchester
Page 113 and 114: LOT 95Rinaldo Carr InspectedU.S. Co
Page 116: The John Fox Collection114LOT 97His
Page 120: Historic Winchester 1876 Rifle Attr
Page 124: Two Contrasting Handguns both with
Page 127 and 128: BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 108Attractiv
Page 129 and 130: LOT 115Scarce and Excellent Factory
Page 131 and 132: SIMILAR EXAMPLEPICTURED ANDDESCRIBE
Page 133 and 134: BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 120Colt Pate
Page 135: LOT 128Scarce Enfield InspectedEgyp
Page 139 and 140: AS PICTURED ANDDESCRIBED IN THE BOO
Page 141 and 142: CONDITION: Very good overall. The i
Page 143 and 144: LOT 138Historic U.S. Officer’s Pr
Page 145 and 146: Historic & Significant - The Only K
Page 147 and 148: BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 145Desirable
Page 149 and 150: LOT 149Civil War American Machine W
Page 151 and 152: Major General HenryWager HalleckLOT
Page 153 and 154: AS PICTURED ANDDESCRIBED IN THE BOO
Page 155 and 156: SIMILAR EXAMPLEILLUSTRATED IN THEIL
Page 157 and 158: LOT 157Rare U.S. InspectedMassachus
Page 160 and 161: The Corner Stone CollectionCOMANCHE
Page 162 and 163: BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 164Extremely
Page 164: Absolutely Sensational, Benchmark Q
Page 167 and 168: The Definition of Investment Qualit
Page 169 and 170: LOT 170Colt Reproduction Model1877
Page 171 and 172: The Gateway CollectionThe control k
Page 173 and 174: Museum QualityDr. Richard JordanGat
Page 175 and 176: BOTH SIDESPICTUREDLOT 174Excellent
Page 177 and 178: BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 178Alligator
Page 180: DALTON GANG KILLEDFOUR OF THEM MADE
Page 184 and 185: BOTH SIDESPICTUREDLOT 182Very Fine
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Exceptional Pair of Colt Thuer Deri
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FRESH to the Market Factory Engrave
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LOT 194Massive Wortham Bowie Knife
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LOT 200Engraved and Silver Plated F
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 205Factory E
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LOT 210Fabulous L.D. Nimschke Engra
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Extremely Rare & Fine .44 Rimfire S
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One of OnlyThree KnownThe Dr. Geral
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RARE Well-Documented & FRESH Gustav
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDThe Dr. Gerald K
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Incredibly Rare & Highly Desirable
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LOT 225Very Fine Smith & Wesson Mod
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The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection212LO
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The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection214LO
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216LOT 245Attractive Cased Smith &
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218LOT 251Very Fine Cased Pair of C
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Not All Artis Framed
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222LOT 253Finely Engraved, Silver I
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The Dr. Gerald Klaz CollectionLOT 2
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The Dr. Gerald Klaz CollectionIf yo
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 257Spectacul
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The Robert M. Lee CollectionLOT 262
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Provenance: The State Hermitage Mus
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 265Decorativ
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BOTH SIDESPICTUREDLOT 268Very Attra
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LOT 274Pair of Exhibition Quality E
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243
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CONDITION: Fine with distinct engra
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LOT 278Cased Colgan of Limerick Eng
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LOT 284Engraved J. Braddell & Son,B
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The Finest John Dickson & Sons 8 Bo
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LOT 288Engraved Edward M. Reilly &
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDA Selection of F
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A Selection of Fine Arms from the E
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Extremely Rare and Significant Char
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Engraved Manton & Co. 8 Bore "Dange
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 308Big Game
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272LOT 315Cased FactoryEngraved J.
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274LOT 317Master Engraved Gianfranc
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Outstanding Master Engraved & Gold
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278LOT 322Fabulous Cased John Rigby
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Attractive Engraved J.P. Sauer & So
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Exceptional Engraved & Gold Inlaid
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 329Exception
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Wilkinson would become the 10th per
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Sublime in Every Respect - "Not All
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 336Master En
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 344Wincheste
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 349Wincheste
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LOT 357Factory Engraved WinchesterP
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LOT 363Exceptional Elaborately Fact
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301
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Collector’s FactAccording to The
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LOT 369Engraved Pre-World War II Wi
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A Must Have for the Serious Winches
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CONDITION: Near new, with only thes
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Q) Browning Model 12 Grade I SlideA
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 378World War
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Outstanding National Match U.S. Spr
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LOT 386Rare Smith & Wesson Mark II
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 394Desirable
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LOT 399World War II U.S. Inland M1A
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 404World War
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BOTH SIDESPICTUREDLOT 409Post-World
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LOT 416Exceptional Early Production
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LOT 424Colt AR-15 Model 639 Select
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 426U.S. Prop
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LOT 430U.S. Auto-Ordnance Thompson
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 433French MA
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 437Very Scar
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 441Exception
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BOTH SIDES PICTUREDLOT 447Very Scar
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An Excellent Selection of American
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LOT 460Excellent World War II Germa
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BOTH SIDESPICTUREDLOT 466Excellent
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LOT 475Sauer “ce/44” Code Model
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LOT 486World War II Walther PPK 22
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LOT 497DWM/Mauser American Eagle Lu
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Scarce Factory Engraved S&W Model 4
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BOTH SIDESPICTUREDCollector’s Fac
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LOT 515Cased Pair of Consecutively
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Well-Documented Set of Factory Engr
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BOTH SIDESPICTUREDLOT 520Cased Pair
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BOTH SIDESPICTUREDLOT 523Outstandin
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BOTH SIDESPICTUREDBOTH SIDES PICTUR
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BOTH SIDESPICTUREDLOT 533Factory Cl
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The Next Two Pairs of Revolvers are
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LOT 547Desirable Matched Set of Col
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LOT 555Colt Python EliteDouble Acti
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LOT 579Very Rare Smith & Wesson Mod
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LOT 593Quantico ShippedColt M45A1Se
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LOT 604Izhevsk Arsenal Marked AK-74
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LOT 615SIG Sauer Desert Digital Cam
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LOT 627Barrett Model 98B Bolt Actio
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Auctions provide a means by which p
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2020 September Premier, Volume I

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