Interesting history and link to an authentic replica of the most rare civil war pistol. Griswold automobile, manufactured in detroit in 1907. The griswold gunnison revolvers are copies of the colt 1851 navy revolver and were. This is a fine original example of a colt model 1851 navy type percussion revolver that was manufactured by samuel griswold and arvin gunnison at griswoldville, georgia, circa 186264. The factory soon began producing revolvers for the confederacy. Arvin gunnison was gunsmith who had been making colt type revolver in new orleans before the war, who partnered with samuel griswold for the endeavor. The factory was destroyed after the battle of griswold station by the 10th ohio cavalry and 3rd union kentucky. With that being said, pietta makes a copy of the griswold and gunnison. Before the civil war, samuel griswold began manufacturing operations approximately 9 miles south of macon ga along the line of the georgia central railroad. Ssb204 1851 navy brass frame revolver dixie gun works. Some 3,600 to 3,700 revolvers were produced by griswold and gunnison from about july 1862 until the destruction of the factory in the november 22, 1864 battle of griswold station. Connecticut yankee samuel griswold set up a cotton gin factory in georgia in 1830. Talking about my new 1861 griswold and gunnison replica revolver made by pietta. My griswold and gunnison revolver gun and game the.
Some 3600 to 3700 revolvers available at 2006 december signature civil. Every year they hold a reenactment for two days during may. Civil war confederate griswold and gunnison revolver. Rv0200 dixie pietta 1851 navy brass frame revolver kit. Renowned at the time for its quality, it sports a 712. Operators of a cotton gin factory before the war, samuel griswold and his partner arvin gunnison were one of only three manufacturers th.
Rare confederate second model griswold and gunnison revolver. This capandball revolver fired six 36 caliber balls, and a loading mechanism was incorporated into the design. Nov 10, 2011 gun digest book of the revolver covers all aspects of living with the doubleaction revolver. Introduced in 1850 and made through 1873, the total production of the model 1851 revolver was about 255,000 pieces. In 1862, griswold produced pikes for volunteers from the state of georgia. Samuel griswold, a transplanted yankee, made more than 3,700 revolvers for the confederacy. Restricted shipping this item has restricted shipping.
Griswold and gunnison were rather unique among confederate revolver manufacturers for their ability to actually create a reliable and high quality product and produce it on a regular and predictable schedule. Morris of the 7th mississippi cavalry carried this. I made a good buddy who shoots older cap guns a believer as well. I was going for a \griswold and gunnison\ type piece. He initially produced infantry pikes, weapons which were obsolete long before the start of the war. Few handgun makers in the south equaled the griswold in quality and none exceeded its production, even though griswold and gunnison made only 3,700 revolves.
Flayderman notes that few handgun makers in the south equaled the griswold in quality and none exceeded its production, even though griswold and gunnison made only 3,700 see reference at end of the article. High standard manufacturing corporation nib griswold. Because of its unique historic connection with the south, this griswold and gunnison navytype revolver is an excellent choice for rebel reenactors, too. The griswold and gunnison revolver, known simply as the griswold, became one of the most famous firearms made for the confederate army and today is one of the rarest. The village of griswoldville grew around the factory. Oct 21, 2017 arvin gunnison was gunsmith who had been making colt type revolver in new orleans before the war, who partnered with samuel griswold for the endeavor. Also typical of the griswold is a cylinder manufactured from twisted iron instead of steel. Dec 14, 2016 griswold handled the financial side of things. Ian mccollum seems to be on some sort of roll with forgotten and rare confederate weapons. Blued barrel and simulated brass frame finish, wood grips, 12 length all firea. Renowned at the time for its quality, it sports a 712 dragoontype blued barrel with sixgroove rifling.
The griswold and gunnison revolver, known simply as the griswold, became one. History and mechanics august 9, 2017 ian mccollum 17 george fosbery, v. A full size revolver, like the griswold is great for cavalry, but. The plant was destroyed on november 22, 1864, by the 3rd union kentucky cavalry. Williams, carolyn, history of jones county georgia. The griswold and gunnison company was one of those who received a contract to produce a copy of colts 1851 revolver. The griswold and gunnison revolver of the confederate army. T he percussion revolver manufactured in small numbers by a makeshift company, hastily set up in a cotton gin outside of macon, georgia in the early part of the civil war is often confused with the 1860 colt army and navy colt revolvers, which were. This model gun has a brass frame accenting an authentic and historic replica. More than 3,500 were produced at griswoldville before the factory was destroyed on 20 november 1864.
Antique firearms are one of the many tangents of history that fascinates me. Military gunsmilitary historytuscaloosa alabamafirearms. But i dont burn powder to play war anymore, i live fire and do living history. Gunnison 18251882 began his machinist career at griswold s gin factory before moving to new orleans, lcuisiana. The southern government began offering interest free loans as incentives for companies to begin production of firearms. Nipples are very clean, and the gun has most of it blueing, and the frame has faded color case hardening.
The company set out to produce a replica of the colt 1851 navy revolver. We will provide a little history of the original griswold and gunnison revolver and discuss the historic accuracy and target accuracy of piettas replica revolver. Llipietta of italy with a 7 12 octrd barrel with a very good bore. Of the three, griswold and gunnison was the only company that achieved any success as gunmakers. These are reproductions of the confederate copies of the colt model 1851 navy revolver. I was going to remove the blue and antique this gun but it looks too good as is so im leaving it alone. Griswold was the largest confederate manufacturer of handguns and produced approximately 3700 percussion revolvers between 1862 and 1864. If you have any questions regarding this item, you should contact the seller before bidding. Georgia state line was present at the battle of griswoldville and took part in the attempt to defend the factory the original griswold pistols were made in back in november, 1864.
The griswold gunnison revolvers are copies of the colt 1851 navy revolver and were made with distinctive brass frames because of the shortage of steel in the south. It is a brass framed copy of the colt 1851 navy revolver. The frames were made by high standard and the balance of the parts by uberti. Griswold revolver, firearm produced at griswoldville, georgia, for confederate forces during the american civil war. The action of this replica gun works like the original. Brass was used for the frames because of the scarcity of iron in the united states.
The grips were not fitted to the frame all that well, i had to take about 116 off the top to get the grip frame to line up with the screw holes without any force being applied. Note that most confederate copies of the colt had round barrels, not the octagonal barrel found on the colt. Large group of dug griswold and gunnison revolver parts excavated years ago from factory site in griswoldville, georgia. With southern weaponry in short supply, griswold and gunnison first entered the arms business in february 1862 when they answered the call of georgias governor brown by making pikes. Flayderman notes that few handgun makers in the south equaled the griswold in quality and none exceeded its production, even though griswold and gunnison made only 3,700 see reference at end of the. The griswold and gunnison pistol was a nearexact copy of the. The man made grips look like ivory, and the left breech side of the barrel has shallow dents from. Gary notes in his book on page 11, while he gunnison undoubtedly got most. Griswold manufacturing, an american manufacturer of cast iron home products based in erie, pennsylvania, that operated from 1865 until 1957.
A griswold and gunnison confederate revolver, private john e. Samuel griswold was an american industrial pioneer in the 1820s based in central georgia. T he percussion revolver manufactured in small numbers by a makeshift company, hastily set up in a cotton gin outside of macon, georgia in the early part of the civil war is often confused with the 1860 colt army. Jul 28, 2018 so, if you like antique guns with a real history, you may want to invest in a griswoldgunnison revolver. Griswold was the largest confederate manufacturer of handguns and produced approximately 3700. This is a replica of a griswold and gunnison which is a copy of an 1851 colt navy. July 28, 2018 january 23, 2019 robert grizzle leave a comment. On november 11, 1864, general sherman began his march to the sea from atlanta. Beyond this, little is known of gunnison on a personal level. Finally, in the spring of 1862, griswold and gunnison combined their efforts to supply the confederacy with sidearms. This is an original example of a confederate model 1851 navy type percussion revolver that was manufactured by samuel griswold in griswoldville, georgia, in may, 1864. A lack of raw materials led to some creative changes in the griswold and gunnison variant of the 1851 navy. Likewise, if you want to visit an important historic site, take a short trip outside of macon, ga. The few examples that are known to me are serial numbers 8, 29, 31, 64 and 90.
Cold mountain internet movie firearms database guns in. Introduced in 1850 and made through 1873 this capandball revolver fired six 36 caliber balls, and a loading mechanism was incorporated into the design. Piettas griswold and gunnison revolver is based on the colt model 1851. It has a great amount of historical references and i would be pleased to assist you if you have any questions that i may be able to answer looking through the book. It was made in italy by uberti which is the top italian manufacturer of replica revolvers. Confederate griswold revolver found in a house belonging to a whaling ship. The description, specs, photos and pricing for the pietta griswold and gunnison revolver. So many of the confederate revolvers were made by starryeyed novices. Griswold and gunnison pistols were patterned after the colt model 1851 navy revolver. I will delve into it more thoroughly as your project continues. The manufacturing facility and a cluster of homes became griswoldville. The revolver produced at griswoldville was called the griswold and grier revolver, and later on called the griswold gunnison, after arvin nye gunnison, griswolds business partner.
The griswold and gunnison revolver southern fox fire. The fact that this was made in 1970 and looks from the pictures to be unfired makes it that much more valuable imnsho. I have avoided brass frame revolvers like the plague, i made a discovery fg skirmish powder. May 29, 2014 this is the fulllength version of my griswold and gunnison revolver story. Before the civil war, samuel griswold was a successful businessman, having found a good living making cotton gins. My interests cover everything from the colt revolver and the henry repeating rifle to the brrrrrt of the a10 warthog. Operators of a cotton gin factory before the war, griswold and. A griswold and gunnison confederate revolver, private john. Approximately 3700 were produced before the factory in griswoldville, georgia was destroyed by the union in november 1864. T he percussion revolver manufactured in small numbers by a makeshift company, hastily set up in a cotton gin outside of macon, georgia in the early part of the civil war is often confused with the 1860 colt army and navy colt revolvers, which were manufactured in the union north. Brass frames are obviously weaker than steel frames. Seller assumes all responsibility for listing this item.
The octagontoround barrel was turned on a lathe using the same operational methods as original arsenalbuilt griswolds. The griswold and gunnison confederate revolver was produced in griswoldville, georgia between 18621864. Because of the unique historic connection with the south, this griswold and gunnison navytype revolver is an excellent choice for rebel reenactors. Ask the civil war collector appraisal of civil war memorabilia. It was marketed as colt 1851 navy reb, and according to the markings it was made in 1966.
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