Smith & Wesson No. 2 Old Army Revolver inscribed: "A.V.H. ELLIS/COLONEL 124th REGT./N.Y.V." in three lines on the left side of the frame and "H.A. ELLIS/BVT. LT. COL/U.S.A." in three lines on the right side of the frame. The revolver has the Smith & Wesson high polish blue finish with a casehardened hammer, trigger, and cylinder pin. The revolver has two-piece, square butt, rosewood grips. The sides of the grips have been fitted with silver panels, a silver cap has been fitted to the butt and the tip of the cylinder pin has a silver cover. The ribbed, six inch barrel has a brass, half-moon, front sight. The top of the rib is roll-stamped: "SMITH, & WESSON, SPRINGFIELD, MASS." in a single line. The six-shot cylinder is roll-stamped: "PATENTED APRIL 3, 1855. JULY 5. 1859 & DEC. 18, 1860.". The silver cap prevents removal of the right grip to view the serial number. The assembly number, "G I 0" is stamped on the face of the barrel lug and on the front face of the cylinder. The revolver is complete with a four compartment English style oak case with green lining. The case contains a wooden cleaning rod with steel tip, a full box of Winchester .32 Short cartridges and a steel screw-driver with ebony handle. Augustus van Horn Ellis was a lawyer, sea captain and soldier. He was the first colonel of the 124th New York Volunteer Infantry ("Orange Blossoms"). The 124th New York took 40% causalities at the Battle of Chancellorsville. During the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, the regiment was stationed on Houck's Ridge near Devil's Den and opposed the assault by Confederate General John B. Hood's Texas Division. Colonel Ellis deliberately remained on horseback during the fighting to inspire his regiment. Ellis was killed in the fighting but the defense of Houck's Ridge slowed the Confederate assault which broke on Little Round Top. A monument to Colonel Ellis was erected on Houck's Ridge on the Gettysburg Battlefield in 1885. The Smith & Wesson No. 2 Old Model Army Revolver was a popular Federal officer's sidearm during the Civil War.

Very fine. The revolver shows minimal handling wear and no firing wear. The revolver retains 70% of the original blue finish. Most of the finish wear is concentrated on the grip straps, sides of the frame, and the edges of the barrel. The casehardened components have faded to a mottled silver-gray with traces of the original case colors. The two-piece rosewood grips are also in very fine condition. The factory markings are sharp. The inscriptions on the sides of the frame are crisp. The case is very good. This is a very historic Smith & Wesson No. 2 Old Model Army Revolver inscribed with the name and regiment of one of the heroes of the Battle of Gettysburg.