🥇 BANNER Civil War Revolver!!!

hbru123

Bronze Member
Jun 4, 2016
1,120
1,023
San Diego California
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Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 600
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
I was metal detecting at a early 1800’s-1920’s homestead which throughout the years has had Civil War soldiers sent to capture Confederate sympathizers camp outside, the Mormon battalion camped there, and a lot more occurred. You might remember my post about how I found a Civil War revolver cylinder if not it has a lot of history of the site so here is the old post: I found this awesome Cylinder to a revolver near a Civil War skirmish site and a Civil War trail in San Diego California. Here is a little back story: In San Diego there were many Confederate sympathizers and in 1861 16 Confederate soldiers ran into some Union soldiers on there way to San Diego (Remember this was before San Diego was widely populated so if you saw a homestead near a river, which is where I found this, you would most likely stop to have a drink of water and rest) a small skirmish pursued but the Union ended up capturing the Confederates. I found this not far from the battle site. After looking over hundreds of different revolvers the only one that was a match was a Confederate .36 caliber revolver. ( you have to remember that Civil War relics are insanely hard to find in California so this is a amazing find for me) it was found over 14 inches deep.

Today: I went back there. I was finding some old relics but I never thought something like this would ever happen. I got the signal and I looked down and saw something sticking out of the ground, I pulled it out, and after a second of looking at it I knew that it was the back to a revolver. I went to look to see if the cylinder and the barrel were there so I swung my detector over the hole and there was still something so I dug down a few inches and out popped the cylinder and the barrel. After some research I found out that it is a 1860 army issue colt revolver!! I never thought I would find a gun and much less a Civil War revolver in California!!

**UPDATE**

I was looking over the gun and I found that the owner of the gun carved his initials (T B) into the brass piece!!

I just found out that it was shipped to Capt. R. H. K. Whitely Governor's Island, NY in 1862!
 

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Last edited:
Upvote 129
Hard to see the "TB". If we end up doing a rendezvous sometime, I'd like to see it in person.

I've found gun parts before (trigger guard & a side-plate) which did indeed have personal identifying marks carved into them. Like notches on one (# of persons shot ? who knows?). So I can totally imagine someone putting their initials on it.

If what southern Loyist was saying is true (that serial # records might still exist showing who was the original purchaser), then wouldn't it be the cat's meow if it turned out that the original purchaser was in fact someone with the initial's T.B. ? haha

Thanks, If we do meet up I will definitely bring it. That is absolutely amazing! You can send the serial number and information into Colt and pay around $300 since this is a old model and they will send you a document about who purchased it and when! I think I might have to order it.
 

Holy crap dude, Was you able to found out who T.B. was? Nice dig!

Thanks. I have not been able to figure out yet but I did find out that it was shipped to Capt. R. H. K. Whitely Governor's Island, NY in 1862.
 

We also made a video of the hunt. The link to the video is:
 

A real show stopper
Congrats
 

That pretty cool man. Great find and a killer addition to the display!
 

You don't see that many 1860's with a silver plated trigger guard. Nice find!
 

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