🥇 BANNER Civil War Revolver!!!

hbru123

Bronze Member
Jun 4, 2016
1,120
1,023
San Diego California
🥇 Banner finds
1
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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Upvote 129
I saw one for sale in the same condition for $1595

Actually, if you shopped it to *just* the right crowd, who factors in provenance, it could fetch as much or more. That is, ... if you cared to spill the beans to history/western enthusiasts with knowledge of that spots provenance. And while I don't think they could "make any stink" about where you found it, yet .... you know the drill: Someone could say you "bothered earthworms" or blah blah blah. So .... holler at me if you decide to sell or donate to the museum.
 

Actually, if you shopped it to *just* the right crowd, who factors in provenance, it could fetch as much or more. That is, ... if you cared to spill the beans to history/western enthusiasts with knowledge of that spots provenance. And while I don't think they could "make any stink" about where you found it, yet .... you know the drill: Someone could say you "bothered earthworms" or blah blah blah. So .... holler at me if you decide to sell or donate to the museum.

I agree, I will definitely let you know what I do, I think I would rather have it in a museum where its stories could be told instead of selling it and having no idea where its going.
 

I saw one for sale in the same condition for $1595

Asking prices and sold prices are two very different things. One can ask all they want for something, but is anyone willing to pay it?

Best way to price it out is to check antique firearms auctions (hammer prices), else it's purely a guess.
Same thing goes for price guides, their simply a guide, I have a lot of antiques I'd dearly love to sell to the price guides, I'd be rich :headbang:
 

Asking prices and sold prices are two very different things. One can ask all they want for something, but is anyone willing to pay it?

Best way to price it out is to check antique firearms auctions (hammer prices), else it's purely a guess.
Same thing goes for price guides, their simply a guide, I have a lot of antiques I'd dearly love to sell to the price guides, I'd be rich :headbang:

True, I will definitely look that up.
 

Congrats on banner
 

Glad to see it up top. Congratulations!
 

Fantastic find Hayden! Congrats on the Banner goes without saying but I will say it anyway CONGRATULATIONS!!! You do your research, you put in the time and effort and it looks like it is paying off in spades...good job.

Are you liking the Eq 600 ? I ordered and paid for my 800 in Dec. and still don't have it... wah wah snivel snivel.

Any word from Mark?
 

Fantastic find Hayden! Congrats on the Banner goes without saying but I will say it anyway CONGRATULATIONS!!! You do your research, you put in the time and effort and it looks like it is paying off in spades...good job.

Are you liking the Eq 600 ? I ordered and paid for my 800 in Dec. and still don't have it... wah wah snivel snivel.

Any word from Mark?

Thanks so much! I am loving it! So far my favorite mode for relic hunting is Park 2, Recovery speed 6 (3 on the 600), 2 tone, iron bias 2 (1 on the 600). I have still not heard from him, I hope he is ok.
 

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Asking prices and sold prices are two very different things. One can ask all they want for something, but is anyone willing to pay it? ...

Agreed. There are a lot of vintage firearm buffs/collectors out there, with no shortage of selections to choose to buy from. And scores of nice choices that are in non-dug (and even functional) condition. So I don't see any reason why this would would fetch high dollars. Unless it were simply one-of-which very few examples exist on the collector market (I have not done my research on this particular one to know).

But, in md'ing, as we all relish: The provenance is irreplaceable. Like a golfer's "hole in one", or a snow skier's triple back flip: There's no way to put a "price" on it.
 

Agreed. There are a lot of vintage firearm buffs/collectors out there, with no shortage of selections to choose to buy from. And scores of nice choices that are in non-dug (and even functional) condition. So I don't see any reason why this would would fetch high dollars. Unless it were simply one-of-which very few examples exist on the collector market (I have not done my research on this particular one to know).

But, in md'ing, as we all relish: The provenance is irreplaceable. Like a golfer's "hole in one", or a snow skier's triple back flip: There's no way to put a "price" on it.

Definitely true. Sometimes the story behind it is worth more than the value.
 

I just found another of the exact same guns in the same excavated condition selling for $1595

I was goona reply at the end but ; IMO that amount of money is "Chump Change" your revolver with the 'real' story & History is almost Priceless.

Glad It made it up top , else I never may have seen it .
Great Job .
Davers

P.S. IMO
Your a great person to thank everybody who posted concerning your find.
No need to reply to mine , I know you appreciate it.

AWESOME HISTORICAL FIND & IN CA!
 

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CONGRATS ON YOUR BANNER!!!!! :occasion14:
 

finally glad to see this on top if only that pistol could talk the stories it could tell
 

that's just not fair
 

GIVE THAT MAN A PRIZE...
 

HOLY!

I just opened TNET and was taken aback when I saw the newest addition to the banner. That is just incredible! Congrats!
 

Congrats on the Banner! Well deserved!
 

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