Lot 92 email save

REMINGTON PISTOL OWNED BY GENERAL GEORGE CUSTER

PISTOL THAT BELONGED TO CUSTER

92. [GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER] (1839-1876). Union brigadier general at age 23, he fought in nearly every battle of the Army of the Potomac, including Gettysburg, later to be killed and his troops annihilated by Sioux and Cheyenne warriors led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse at Little Bighorn. Identified Remington-Beals Navy Conversion revolver, Patent Sept. 14. 1858 on top barrel; Serial No. 4416 under left grip strap. Manufactured during the 1860s, it belonged to the famed Civil War general and Indian fighter and is accompanied by a newspaper article referencing the gun, with image, and three letters of authenticity. Obtained from a respected antique Western gun collector, the gun is in very good condition. It was on temporary display at the Monroe County Historical Museum in the hometown of the general and his wife, and briefly at a Hardin, MT, business during Little Bighorn Days in 2008 where it was on loan by the present owner. As was common practice at a time when alphabet dyes were available, the underside of the barrel is crudely stamped "Gen. Geo A Custer 1869" with typical period lettering dropping downward towards the right bottom. It is known that Custer favored Remington firearms and owned many of them throughout his lifetime. In fact, a photo in Reedstrom's Bugles, Banners, and War Bonnets depicts a standard military issue Spencer carbine on which he had carved his name and regiment. In 1866 Custer was stationed in Texas where he resided in Austin. Shortly afterward he was appointed lieutenant colonel commanding the newly created U.S. 7th Cavalry headquartered at Fort Riley, KS, which became a major part of General Winfield Hancock's campaign against the Cheyenne in the spring of 1867 and led them again in the Battle of Washita River in late 1868 and throughout the rest of the Southern Plains War against the Cheyenne and Kiowa. According to author John S. duMont's Custer Battle Guns: "The general probably gave some of the arms away as they become obsolete, or as he received fancier or more modern arms." Along the same lines, Elizabeth Custer stated in her book Boots and Saddles: "a stand of arms in the general's library held a collect of pistols, hunting knives, Winchester and Springfield rifles, shotguns and carbines, and even an old flintlock musket as a variety." Est: $100000-150000

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