3052 EARLY 2-PIN PRESENTATION CIVIL WAR SMITH & WESSON

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,000.00 USD
Estimated at 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
ARMY REVOLVER, LT. MAURICE LEYDEN, 3RD NEW YORK VOLUNTEER CAVALRY. Cal. 32, S# 2534. Standard configuration of Civil War Smith & Wesson army revolver, 5" barrel, blue finish, rosewood grips. Revolver was made early 1862, probably January according to Mr. Bricker's notes and research. Inscription on backstrap "LIEUT. MAURICE LEYDEN, SYRACUSE N.Y.". Maurice Leyden (1836-1906) enlisted in Syracuse NY January 13, 1861 into Co. B, 3rd NY Cavalry as 2nd lieutenant. The 25 year old recruit was a dentist before the war. He was captured October 7, 1864 on Darbytown Road near Richmond, and was held as prisoner of war at Libby prison, and later moved to prison in Salisbury. He was exchanged April 1st 1865, and promoted to captain in NY 1st Mounted Rifles. He remained in Richmond occupation and was mustered out November 29, 1865. Maurice Leyden kept diaries and wrote many letters during his life which can be found scattered around the country, but the bulk is housed at Binghamton University. One interesting letter is found online at the Library of Virginia where he is writing to his wife in the trenches at Petersburg in 1864. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: file of research including notes when purchased, service records and pension records of Maurice Leyden. CONDITION: very good overall, traces of original blue finish in protected areas, markings good including inscription on backstrap. Mechanically fine, bright shiny rifled bore. PROVENANCE: purchased from Hamburg New York dealer/collector Frank Panasuk May 22, 1993 at the Ohio Gun Collectors Association show; from the Lifelong Collection of Robert "Mike" Bricker. (01-24995/JS). ANTIQUE. $2,000-3,000.