Need help in identifying an ancestor's revolver that I recently inherited.

I have recently inherited a confederate revolver that supposedly belonged to an ancestor. I was told that it from my grandmother's maternal grandfather's line, but neither my mother or so sister could specifically identify the original owner. That particular branch has several men who the pistol could have belonged to, and I am hoping that the model and serial number will help to identify which unit it was likely issued to. Most of the men were assigned to various Texas Cavalry units. However, the most likely candidate was living in Tennessee in 1862 and was assigned to Company A Holman's Battalion Partisan Rangers which appears to have later been reorganized into the 11th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment. Following the war he settled in the area around Waxahachie, TX.

My best guess is that the revolver is a Griswold Gunnison but I am making that assessment using the limited resources I have found online. My grandmother that when she was a kid they would play with it in the yard, and that her mother used it for cracking pecans, so it is in pretty poor condition. The pistol also has an arrowhead shaped tack in the hand grip that may have been put there by the owner. It appears someone carved out the wood in the grip in order to embed the tack. I do not believe it was put there by the manufacturer. I was hoping that it was some kind of unique unit insignia or something that could with identification. It reminds me of the modern day patch for the 37th IBCT TX ARNG. One of the tacks has either been removed or fallen out at some point in the past.

If am hoping the model and serial number will allow me to identify which specific unit or at least the type of unit this would have been issued to, and possibly the approximate date of manufacture. Thank you for your help!

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Welcome from Central Ohio! That's a beautiful piece, thanks for sharing it with us. I cant add anymore than what's already been stated.
 
Thank you for the date. Was it approximated using the estimated production tempo or some other method? The date makes sense. His unit was reorganized into the 11th Tenn Cav in February of '63 and he pops back up on a muster roll in June of '63. I assume newly minted weapons were sent to the front without delay. I don't know how the Partisan cavalry units were equipped, but maybe the reorganization into a regular CS Cavalry unit prioritized them to receive a new issue of weapons. It could just be confirmation bias, but I think it seems more than reasonable. Ill put it on the research to-do list. If I find anything ill update the thread.
Confederate Revolvers/ by Albaugh list monthly production by the last number made that month. I don't know how or who they were given to. If I remember Harry Gilmore carried a Confederate revolver but I don't remember what make. I paid $12 for the book (Ebay) a year or to back.
 
JD001,
I contacted the "keeper" of the Griswold data base which has been kept up to date for over 40 years., by 3 different collectors along the way.

Your number 1272 is new to the list.
Closest below is 1233, and above 1289. Neither identified to a name or a unit.

There are no extant receipts of distribution denoting serial numbers or units.
Sorry this doesn't help much.
D
 
JD001,
I contacted the "keeper" of the Griswold data base which has been kept up to date for over 40 years., by 3 different collectors along the way.

Your number 1272 is new to the list.
Closest below is 1233, and above 1289. Neither identified to a name or a unit.

There are no extant receipts of distribution denoting serial numbers or units.
Sorry this doesn't help much.
D
Well at least you woke from your slumber......
 
Sorry for the delayed response, but just unpacking from the Franklin CW show. Was fortunate in picking up some great Rebel weapons for the collection. Will post a few in the appropriate forum.
 
Sorry for the delayed response, but just unpacking from the Franklin CW show. Was fortunate in picking up some great Rebel weapons for the collection. Will post a few in the appropriate forum.
Don T is looking to unload his CSA collection in trade for Rev War stuff, I know there is one musket he might trade everything for...…..
 
JD001,
I contacted the "keeper" of the Griswold data base which has been kept up to date for over 40 years., by 3 different collectors along the way.

Your number 1272 is new to the list.
Closest below is 1233, and above 1289. Neither identified to a name or a unit.

There are no extant receipts of distribution denoting serial numbers or units.
Sorry this doesn't help much.
D
Thank you for checking on this.
 
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