Cased John Blissett Transitional Revolver Identified to Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Porter, United States Mounted Rifles

Description:

Cased John Blissett Transitional Revolver Identified to Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Porter, United States Mounted Rifles, c. 1847-50, checkered grips with a silver escutcheon plate, frame engraved with foliate designs, the hammer engraved with a dolphin, crown proofs on the cylinder, barrel blued and marked "J. BLISSETT, 322 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON," oak case marked with a circular brass escutcheon marked "Lt. Col. A. Porter./Mtd Rifles/U.S. Army/from/A.H.L.," case lined in green superfine, marked inside the lid "JOHN BLISSETT./Gun & Rifle Maker/No. 322 High Holborn/LONDON/EVERY DESCRIPTION OF PISTOLS AND AIR GUNS MANUFACTURED," with the powder flask, tools, patch cutter, Eley cap tin, oiler, and eight round ball, with four carte-de-visites and two envelopes from the Military District of Washington, case ht. 2 3/4, lg. 14 5/8, wd. 7 3/8 in.

Provenance: The collection of Nicholas A. Penachio.

Note: Porter went to the United States Military Academy in 1836 and 1837 and became a 1st Lieutenant in the 1st Mounted Rifles on May 27th, 1861. He received two brevets for his gallant and meritorious conduct during the battles of Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec, Mexico, during the Mexican War. In May of 1861 he was Colonel of the 16th Infantry, and promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers soon after. He served during the battle of Bull Run, and became Provost Marshall of Washington, DC, in 1862. Mustered out of service in 1864 for health reasons, he died in Paris, France, in 1872.
Estimate $5,000-7,000

Pistol retains approximately 80 % blueing on the barrel, the wedge is a little lose, and the action functions properly.


The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

Keywords