2020 September Premier, Volume I

Historic & Significant - The Only Known C.C. Brand Single Shot Pistol, Formerly in the William M. Locke Collection
LOT 143
Rare Documented Prototype Civil War Era C.C. Brand
“Cook C.S.A. 1863” Marked Single Shot 52 Spencer
Rimfire Pistol with Holster - Serial no. 7, 52 Spencer cal., 8
5/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
grips. Christopher C. Brand of Norwich, Connecticut, received
a patented for this design on September 23, 1862. A carbine is
pictured but a “gun or pistol” is mentioned in body of the patent.
He presumably hoped to receive military contracts for his breech
loading arms and chambered them for the .52 Spencer cartridge
already in use. If this pistol had been manufactured a few years
earlier, it very well might have been accepted as a military weapon,
but during the Civil War revolvers were already well-established
and favored over single shot pistols which were reminiscent of the muzzle
loading horse pistols cavalrymen had used for hundreds of years. Brand was far
more successful with his whaling guns which were widely used in the second half of the
19th century. The action is much like the Merrill with the thumb spur on the back strap
pulling backwards to operate the toggle link which slides the breechblock to the rear.
The hammer is mounted in the center of the breechblock, and the very small extractor
lays to its right in the same slot. Only a few guns, mostly carbines, were made under
this patent. This is the only known Brand pistol. It is marked “COOK C.S.A.1863” on top
of barrel and has an “inspector” initial “B” on the top left flat. The bottom of the frame
is marked “7”. Copies of the patent papers accompany the pistol. Pictured in the 9th
Edition of “Flayderman’s Guide” (note the grip screw and the wear patterns) on page
471 and on page 507 of “The William M. Locke Collection” by Frank Sellers. It comes with
the well-fitting period leather holster. Provenance: Gillespie collection.
CONDITION: Very good with gray patina and mild pitting. The grips are fine and have
nice flame figure, glossy varnish, light scratches and nicks, some chipping at the heel on
the right, and a replaced
right screw. Mechanically
excellent. The holster is
fair with moderate overall
wear and tears
at the edges.
Estimate: 15000 - 25000
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK THE
WILLIAM M. LOCKE COLLECTION BY SELLERS
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE
BOOK FLAYDERMAN’S GUIDE TO ANTIQUE
AMERICAN FIREARMS & THEIR VALUES
BY FLAYDERMAN
143