Posted 3 years ago
scottvez
(977 items)
Sixth plate tintype in a half case of an armed Union Quartermaster Sergeant. The image is very crisp-- some great details visible. The weave on the shoulder stripes can be seen.
He has his cavalry saber at his side and cradles a .44 caliber Kerr revolver in his arm.
"The five-shot.44 caliber Kerr revolver was manufactured in England by the London Armoury Company and could be fired either single or double-action. Nearly all Kerr revolvers imported during the Civil War were purchased by the Confederacy and were preferred by many Confederate cavalrymen." (Smithsonian, National Museum of American History)
Will post a link to the Smithsonian in the comments section.
This may represent a soldier showing off his captured pistol.
My original tintype and jpgs, do not copy in any form without permission.
scott
Smithsonian link: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_416169
scott
Thanks vetraio, 33rpm, scott and tom.
scott
The sword appears to be missing the sharkskin and twisted wire handle cover. Beautiful photo.
Thanks for looking and commenting flashlarue.
These M1860 cavalry swords are leather wrapped. The twisted wire is probably deeper and not that visible. When I magnify the grip, I do see some small circular areas in parts of the grip indicating there is a wire in there.
Typically US Navy officer swords are sharkskin wrapped. I have seen some high end presentation swords for Army Officers that are also sharkskin gripped.
scott
Thanks much kiva, fort, vo and watch.
scott
Of course, most photography studios supplied props. Sure he isn't Confederate ? Many uniforms in that conflict were hard to tell apart. To me, the grip looks unwound as found on many Confederate sabres.
Trim along buttons and on the sleeve show this to be a Union shell jacket. Usually they have stiff stand- up collars, but I have seen them with this type of lay down collar as well. Maybe just a private alteration.
Again, I believe the grip wire is there, but I have never read about nor have I seen a higher occurrence of missing grip wire with CS versus US weapons in the era.
scott
Thanks much cultcha.
scott
The South often used captured uniforms and I've seen "Dog River" swords without wrap or wire.
I've owned several M1860s without wire or wrap, as I have seen CS swords missing the wire and wrap. Collectors/ dealers in Civil War don't use missing wire or wrap to assign CS/ US attributions.
Sure there are instances of Confederates wearing Union uniforms-- the anecdotal evidence doesn't erase the fact that most soldiers in Union uniforms were Union soldiers.
Without documentation to the contrary-- the photographic evidence supports a US attribution.
scott
Thanks pottery and nobucks.
scott
My Second Lincoln discovery is posted--- finding him with Andrew Johnson was the frosting on the cake , if not for me figuring the Johnson image -- I may have not zeroed in on Lincoln. Yes - they were being sold as unknown ,,,, possibly the oldest Lincoln to exist ? maybe -- maybe not ? picts do not do them justice,,,,,
Not Lincoln or Johnson!
scott