Sold for $5,100
.31 caliber. 6" octagonal barrel. SN: 100244 (mfg. ca.1855). Blued and color casehardened finish, silver plated brass backstrap and triggerguard, one-piece varnished walnut grip. Single action precision revolver with five-chambered smooth cylinder and standard hammer notch rear sight with brass post front sight. Barrel with two-line bracketed address that reads {ADDRESS SAML COLT/NEW YORK CITY}. Lower left of frame with COLT'S/PATENT marking. Matching serial numbers throughout, including the wedge and grip. Backstrap engraved in a single line Maj. C. Ewing 4th N.J. Inf.
Charles Ewing was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant into Company A of the 3rd New Jersey Infantry on April 27, 1861 and was mustered out of that regiment on July 31 of the same year. On September 9 he was promoted to captain and commissioned as the commander of Company B of the 6th New Jersey Infantry. During 1862, while he served as the captain of Company B, Ewing's regiment saw combat during the Peninsula Campaign, Second Manassas, and Fredericksburg. On January 8, 1863 he was promoted to Major and transferred to the Field and Staff of the 4th New Jersey Infantry. Ewing commanded that regiment at Gettysburg and on September 11, 1863 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. His regiment ended 1863 by participating in the Mine Run Campaign.
1864 saw the regiment active in Grant's Overland Campaign, being engaged at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg. The regiment finished off the summer with combat in and around Petersburg and the Shenandoah Valley, fighting at Fisher's Hill, Third Winchester and Cedar Creek. 1865 saw the regiment continuing to serve in the Petersburg area as part of the siege, being part of the conclusion of that campaign and then participating in the Appomattox Campaign, which culminated with Lee's surrender on April 9, 1865. However, Ewing was discharged on March 16, 1865 in Washington DC so he missed Lee's surrender.
The revolver is accompanied by a CDV of Ewing, posed in a studio with a chausseur's-style jacket with elaborate Austrian knots on the sleeves and is identified in period ink on the verso "Charles Ewing, Major 4th N.J." A framed oval chromo color portrait of Ewing is also included which identifies him as "Lieut.-Col. Charles Ewing/Major Com'd 4th Regt. N.J. Vols. Inf." A set of Smith's Patent shoulder straps are also included. The straps have a hard gilt brass bullion boarder with gilt Major's oak leaves on the interior on a mustard yellow backing. While the accompanying description from the original seller to the consignor describes this background as being staff & field black velvet faded to a yellowish color. This is not correct, as the areas of the fabric protected by the the boarder are a rich mustard yellow, indicating that these were always a cavalry yellow. A large binder of information and research regarding Ewing and his regiments is included. It contains copies of his service records and some correspondence, as well as some copies of images of Ewing. This revolver was originally sold to the consignor by The Horse Soldier in 2018.
Revolver about good to very good. Bore very good, moderately oxidized with strong rifling and some scattered pitting. Barrel with some streaky traces of thinned and faded blue, the balance a brownish-blue patina. Frame a mottled gray and the cylinder a dull pewter patina. Markings mostly clear, cylinder with the majority of the roll engraved Stage Coat Hold Up scene intact. Brass with traces of tarnished silver plating. Mechanically functional action. Grips with moderate surface wear and some strong traces of varnish. Images both good to very good with some age and wear. Shoulder straps with moderate fading of the fabric to a greenish tinge from a muster yellow with some gilt on the stamped brass boarder and oak leaves. Some minor nothing and fabric loss, reverse with some wear to the black backing.