Kerr Revolver. Yes, They do exist

Joined
May 1, 2015
Location
Upstate N.Y.
I thought you might like to see photos of the revolver I just purchased. Serial 6504 partsE910 approx June1863 DOB. All matching and has a personal marking of CBH on frame in front of trigger guard. So now all I need to do is find out who that might be. Might there be a master listing of all Confederate soldiers as a starting point.
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Kerr Ser.#6504  #30.jpg
Kerr Ser.#6504  #27.jpg
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All matching and has a personal marking of CBH on frame in front of trigger guard. So now all I need to do is find out who that might be. Might there be a master listing of all Confederate soldiers as a starting point.

While fold3.com holds the digitized Consolidated Military Service Records for both the Federal and Confederate armies, I don't think you have enough data points to even attempt a search yet.

Doesn't mean that without some judicious wool-gathering, we can't come up with more.

For example, I'd say CBH would most likely be an officer and/or in a Cavalry or Horse Artillery unit as a logical starting point.

Objections, caveats or trepidations about that assumption?
 
With the majority of known specimens of the JS/Anchor marked Kerr revolvers usually being in above average condition I would think they most likely went to officers. Just a random opinion on my part!

As for the initials stamped on it, don't put a lot of stock in the hope that they are those of the original Confederate owner. Here is an example: I know of a WW1 German Luger that has a 3 letter set of initials stamped on the side of the frame. The friend who has it bought it decades ago from the WW1 veteran who recovered it personally from a battlefield in France in 1918. The initials were his own, so he would know which Luger was his!
J.
 
This .36 Kerr revolver is on display at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center of Shiloh National Military Park. It was the property of Lt. Col. James S. Terral, commanding officer of the 7th Mississippi Infantry Battalion. He was mortally wounded on October 3, 1862 about a half mile mile north of the modern visitor center at Battery Robinett. He was carrying the pistol and sword (also on display) when he was wounded.
A bit of trivia: one of the men in Terral's command was Pvt. Newt Knight of Free State of Jones fame.
006.JPG
 
This .36 Kerr revolver is on display at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center of Shiloh National Military Park. It was the property of Lt. Col. James S. Terral, commanding officer of the 7th Mississippi Infantry Battalion. He was mortally wounded on October 3, 1862 about a half mile mile north of the modern visitor center at Battery Robinett. He was carrying the pistol and sword (also on display) when he was wounded.
A bit of trivia: one of the men in Terral's command was Pvt. Newt Knight of Free State of Jones fame.View attachment 126461
Thank you. I make that out to be 5215. So being his death was in October, '62, with approx 2000 est. per year, it would put mine mid '63. That matches the estimated serial ranges for the Kerr in The Gun Report of Jan. 1979. Might you know if Visitor Center has any paper info on the 7th Miss. with any kind of inventory listings? John
 
With the majority of known specimens of the JS/Anchor marked Kerr revolvers usually being in above average condition I would think they most likely went to officers. Just a random opinion on my part!

As for the initials stamped on it, don't put a lot of stock in the hope that they are those of the original Confederate owner. Here is an example: I know of a WW1 German Luger that has a 3 letter set of initials stamped on the side of the frame. The friend who has it bought it decades ago from the WW1 veteran who recovered it personally from a battlefield in France in 1918. The initials were his own, so he would know which Luger was his!
J.
Jobe, I hear you as to when the initials may have been added, but it is all I have to go on. You never know what may turn up.
 
While fold3.com holds the digitized Consolidated Military Service Records for both the Federal and Confederate armies, I don't think you have enough data points to even attempt a search yet.

Doesn't mean that without some judicious wool-gathering, we can't come up with more.

For example, I'd say CBH would most likely be an officer and/or in a Cavalry or Horse Artillery unit as a logical starting point.

Objections, caveats or trepidations about that assumption?
I concur with your observations. If I can narrow down the H's and the the ones with CB's might be a manageable number to start hunting unit records.
 
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Might you know if Visitor Center has any paper info on the 7th Miss. with any kind of inventory listings?

We do not. The sword and revolver, along with several other personal items, were donated to the park from Terral's descendants who did not want to see the collection broken up and sold. We also display a photograph of Terral, the Bible presented to him by his mother, and a journal of sorts which is a collection of letters he wrote to his infant son on how to conduct himself as he approached manhood.

Tom
 
Very Nice CS pistol. I have several dropped bullets for that piece I found at Shiloh years ago I will dig them out and post some photos. Congrats on a GREAT score.
 
We do not. The sword and revolver, along with several other personal items, were donated to the park from Terral's descendants who did not want to see the collection broken up and sold. We also display a photograph of Terral, the Bible presented to him by his mother, and a journal of sorts which is a collection of letters he wrote to his infant son on how to conduct himself as he approached manhood.

Tom
Thank you. I read it as a 5
 
Might anyone know of an original parts gun around ,as I would like to replace the machine screw that holds the cylinder release spring due to the head is chewed up? The revolver spent a lot of time in holster as the muzzle and front sight are smoothed down. Leads me to think Calvary use.
 
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While fold3.com holds the digitized Consolidated Military Service Records for both the Federal and Confederate armies, I don't think you have enough data points to even attempt a search yet.

Doesn't mean that without some judicious wool-gathering, we can't come up with more.

For example, I'd say CBH would most likely be an officer and/or in a Cavalry or Horse Artillery unit as a logical starting point.

Objections, caveats or trepidations about that assumption?
Now if I only could find out what Caleb Huse middle initial might be, the jackpot for sure.
 
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I am quite sure that someone with the stature of Caleb Huse would have never taken a mismatched set of die stamps and pounded his initials into a revolver! If anything his revolver would have been professionally engraved with his full name and rank.
J.
 
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