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!
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!