Known as the Revolver of Colt Model 1851 Navy type, these rare Confederate revolvers were manufactured circa 1861 to 1864 with a total production of only about 100 and only a few are known today. These revolvers were very well made and (like most Confederate revolvers) are almost identical in appearance to the Colt Model 1851 Navy revolvers. Among the revolvers made in the Confederacy, the ones said to have been made by the Augusta Machine Works are somewhat mysterious. They are not marked with a maker's name and some question if the gun was made by the factory or if any revolvers were even manufactured by Augusta Machine Works. The Confederate Government did own a factory in Augusta, Georgia, that was known as the Augusta Machine Works, but what military weapons were manufactured has never really been established. These revolvers were marked with either a number or letter for assembly markings, and this revolver is marked with the assembly number 1 in nine separate locations: twice in the grip channels, (on the back and bottom), the left side of each grip strap, the right side of the hammer, wedge, loading lever, back of the barrel lug and on the front cylinder face. The revolver has a full octagon barrel, brass trigger guard and back strap, and a Colt Navy type loading lever catch. There were two variations of cylinders, one with six stops and the other (approximately half) 12 stops. This revolver has the 12 stops and correctly made without safety pins between the nipples. The revolver is equipped with a dovetailed brass blade front sight. A period installed dovetailed notch rear sight mounted on the breech end of the barrel, and it also has the standard hammer notch rear sight. The hammer is knurled and has a unique design with a shorter spur that goes almost straight up and down when in the decocked position Fitted with smooth one piece walnut grips with the unique "pinch" at the frame juncture. According to statements made by a previous owner, this revolver was the property of a Dr. Hugh Berkeley who was with the First Florida Infantry during the Civil War. Organized in Tallahassee in April of 1861, the First Florida spent the war as part of the Armies of Tennessee, Mississippi and Pensacola, seeing action at Shiloh, Corinth, Stones River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta Campaign and Bentonville. Over the course of the war it was reorganized and consolidated with other Florida units, particularly the Third Florida Infantry. Dr. Berkeley resigned from the unit around the middle of 1864, while the unit as a whole was disbanded and paroled following the surrender of General Johnson on April 26, 1865. Like many, Dr. Berkeley was financially ruined by the War, and relocated his family to Missouri where he established a medical practice. Passing on in 1884, the doctor was buried in DeSoto, Missouri. Also included with the lot is a brown leather pocket case, which opens up to reveal fifteen 3 1/4 inch glass vials and twenty-eight 1 1/2 inch glass vials, some containing loose unidentified powder and others bearing labels for 19th century medicines, which he probably used after the Civil War during his medical practice.

Very fine, with a dark patina on all the metal surfaces with some scattered minor oxidation. The brass has a natural dark untouched aged patina. The grip is also very fine retaining almost all of the original varnish and showing several small dings on the bottom, some lower edge wear and scattered minor dents and handling marks. The medical case is very good with some scuffs and edge wear. The action is fine. Considering the hard service Confederate weapons saw, this revolver is a very fine example of an extremely rare Augusta Machine Works 12 stop Confederate revolver. A very nice addition to any Civil War collection.