These modifications are done inhoused by our gunsmith david stavlo. A griswold and gunnison confederate revolver, private john e. During the battle of griswold station, the pistol factory was destroyed. Rare civil war confederate griswold and gunnison revolver. 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. Williams, carolyn, history of jones county georgia. The griswold and gunnison pistol was a nearexact copy of the.
Gary notes in his book on page 11, while he gunnison undoubtedly got. A civil war confederate first model griswold revolver, sn 695, caliber 36. My wife who is a newer shooter and i have both applied the information in this book to own revolver shooting and have increased our enjoyment of, and skill with, revolvers as a result. A historical reference for the modern collector by william e.
While not exactly an effective charging manstopper the 1849 colt, and simmiler revolvers was the choice of some individual soldiers and officers as a personal. 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. 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. Samuel griswold was an american industrial pioneer in the 1820s based in central georgia.
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. Revolver sighting options including tips for aging eyes. In great used condition cased set including solid hardwood. Operators of a cotton gin factory before the war, samuel griswold and his partner arvin gunnison were one of only three manufacturers th. On november 11, 1864, general sherman began his march to the sea from atlanta. The label said 1860 replica revolver and i assumed it was a colt but the colt 1861 looked quite different in front of the cylinder. May 29, 2014 this is the fulllength version of my griswold and gunnison revolver story. Matching makers marks on barrel, cylinder and reciever 177 serial number this is a pietta griswold and gunnison 36 caliber pistol in great shape, has a rusty spot on the cylinder and a few. The description, specs, photos and pricing for the pietta griswold and gunnison revolver. Before the civil war, samuel griswold began manufacturing operations approximately 9 miles south of macon ga along the line of the georgia central railroad.
The methods shown are those used by the colt factory to restore a. The factory soon began producing revolvers for the confederacy. Originally from tuscaloosa, alabama, morris joined the 7th. Because of its unique historic connection with the south, this griswold and gunnison navytype revolver is an excellent choice for rebel reenactors, too. Revolver is a story about a family stretching over three separate time periods. Griswold and gunnison confederate cap and ball revolver. The griswold and gunnison confederate revolver was produced in griswoldville, georgia between 18621864. This model gun has a brass frame accenting an authentic and historic replica. The 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 coltrevolvers, which were. My griswold and gunnison revolver gun and game the.
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. They have a subtle but recognizable slight rear tilt to the grips, and are virtually all identical, or as close to it as can be expected for handfitted guns from the 1860s. Rare confederate second model griswold and gunnison revolver. Replica gun confederate revolver designed by griswold. This interesting revolver was manufactured by pietta. The gun digest book of the revolver online bookstore. It is a brass framed copy of the colt 1851 navy revolver. Gun digest book of hunting revolvers by max prasac. Maybe a small frameshort barrel 1849 replica modified to receive a long barrel. A fine conditioned first model griswold that was probably captured by cap. The griswold was essentially a copy of the colt 1851 navy revolver, though it had some important differences like a brass. 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.
Rare confederate second model griswold and gunnison revolver so, if you like antique guns with a real history, you may want to invest in a griswoldgunnison revolver. The standard issue sidearm during the time of the civil war was the 1851 colt navy. Its 1965 and officer stan walczak together with his partner george wildey is patrolling an area of philadelphia known locally as the jungle. 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. I dont have the revolver here so i cannot gauge it right now. Morris, 7th mississippi cavalry forrests cavalry private john a. With gun digest book of hunting revolvers, youll learn about factory and custom revolvers, plus calibers, bullets, and terminal effectiveness on all sizes of game extensive, detailed look at factory and custom revolvers. Likewise, if you want to visit an important historic site, take a short trip outside of macon, ga. Whether you already own a revolver or are considering purchasing a revolver, this book should be on your reading list. Piettas griswold and gunnison revolver is based on the colt model 1851. Gunnison gorge probably didnt need a gunsmith, but it would be good to have a tinker. This is a solid representative example of a colt model 1851 navy type percussion revolver that was manufactured by samuel griswold and arvin gunnison at griswoldville, georgia, circa 186264.
They were one of quite a few southernmade copies of the excellent. Handgun hunting has evolved significantly over the last 25 years. This is not a good chapter in american history and events attributable to. My griswold and gunnison revolver the firearms forum the. The griswold and gunnison revolver, known simply as the griswold, became one. My first black powder firearm, a pietta griswold and gunnison pistol.
These books were written for use as training aids for new gunsmiths and cover every possible aspect of disassembly, inspection, reassembly, and gunsmithing of the colt revolvers to factory standards. This is the fulllength version of my griswold and gunnison revolver story. Bart walked to the side of the wagon and stuck out his hand. Description a griswold and gunnison confederate revolver, private john e. Confederate griswold revolver found in a house belonging to a whaling ship captain. David starts the process by carefully removing all the modern italian markings from the barrel, frame and. 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. When the civil war began, demand for firearms increased drastically. I always thought that short loading levers were only used on short barrel revolvers. Griswold was the largest confederate manufacturer of handguns and produced approximately 3700 percussion revolvers between 1862 and 1864. I thought it was a colt 1851 navy but i noticed some differences there, too. The griswold gunnison revolvers are copies of the colt 1851 navy revolver and were. This second model revolver has a dragoonstyle octagonal barrel lug with round barrel and.
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. Rv0200 dixie pietta 1851 navy brass frame revolver kit. The octagontoround barrel was turned on a lathe using the same operational methods as original arsenalbuilt griswolds. Manufactured by high standard in the usa, this brass frame 36 caliber revolver has been well cared for. My griswold and gunnison revolver the firearms forum. It commemorates southern production of copies of the colt navy for use by the confederacy and the box has a reproduction of a macon newspaper article published in 1862. 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.
Interesting history and link to an authentic replica of the most rare civil war pistol. Bill goforth dealers please contact us about this book and others published by. Blued barrel and simulated brass frame finish, wood grips, 12 length all firea. My research led me from the gfa database and bulletin archives to books on confederate handguns, the family history center of our local church of latter day saints, and an on. Morris of the 7th mississippi cavalry carried this. The revolver produced at griswoldville was called the griswold and grier revolver, and later on called the griswold gunnison, after arvin nye gunnison, griswold s business partner. The action of this replica gun works like the original.
Based on the original colt model 1851, which was primarily used by the confederacy, the pietta griswold and gunnison. Renowned at the time for its quality, it sports a 712. This gives this reproduction the same taper and profile. Operators of a cotton gin factory before the war, griswold and. Onepiece walnut grip, blued barrel and cylinder, brass frame and back strap. Firearm courtesy of nra museums logan metesh is a firearms historian and consultant who runs high caliber history llc. Renowned at the time for its quality, it sports a 712 dragoontype blued barrel with sixgroove rifling. Selfdefense and revolvers revolver sighting options including tips for aging eyes. I recently rekindled a love for shooting revolvers after several years away from the range and decided to read this book to learn more about the gun i first shot in college. 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. Grants insight into the revolver both honors the types history and heritage and proves that revolvers are both relevant and effective in the modern day.
The village of griswoldville grew around the factory. This is not a good chapter in american history and events attributable to racism are an everyday occurrence. I looked forward to a the gundigest book of the revolver is a fine book and should be a valuable resource to anyone interested researching, shooting, and carrying a. I beleive who apparently bought the revolver from the private. Griswold was a very successful entrepreneur who had built griswoldville on 4,000 acres of land south of macon, georgia. 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.
Ask the civil war collector appraisal of civil war memorabilia. A griswold and gunnison confederate revolver, private john. The griswold and gunnison revolver southern fox fire. Gun digest book of the revolver covers all aspects of living with the doubleaction revolver. This second model revolver has a dragoonstyle octagonal barrel lug with round. The first was a private who purchased the revolver new, i dont remember the unit and the second, an officer, lt. Oct, 2011 with a title like book of the revolver, i was expecting a thorough treatise on the revolver, including its history from the very earliest models through current iterations. I dont know if you can make a living in gunnison gorge, but there is an empty store available. The gun digest book of the revolver by grant cunningham. Connecticut yankee samuel griswold set up a cotton gin factory in georgia in 1830.
Confederate second model griswold and gunnison 1851 revolver. The manufacturing facility and a cluster of homes became griswoldville. This second model revolver has a dragoonstyle octagonal barrel lug with round barrel and brass pin front sight, brass frame, trigger guard and back strap and onepiece walnut grip the cylinder has the distinctive griswold and gunnison twist lines and safety pins between each nipple. In 1862, griswold produced pikes for volunteers from the state of georgia. Brass was used for the frames because of the scarcity of iron in the united states.
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