This is a highly sought after example of a rare Confederate Leech & Rigdon percussion revolver, and one of the finest surviving examples remaining today. The Leech & Rigdon Revolver is a close copy of the Colt Navy Model revolver, except that it has a round barrel with an octagonal top barrel housing similar to the Colt Dragoon. These are among the most highly sought after Confederate firearms. This is one of approximately 1,500 manufactured by Thomas Leech and Charles Rigdon at the Greensboro, Georgia factory circa 1863-1864 on contract with the Confederate government. The company was dissolved in 1864 and was replaced by Rigdon, Ansley & Co., which continued to manufacture a small amount of an updated variation of these revolvers in Augusta, Georgia. "CONFEDERATE HANDGUNS" by Albaugh, Benet and Simmons lists the highest known Leech & Rigdon serial number as 1490. This revolver, serial number 836, has the pin and ball loading lever latch and six-shot cylinder with six cylinder stops whereas the Rigdon & Ansley revolvers have twelve cylinder stops like the Manhattan revolvers. The barrel has a brass pin front sight. "LEECH & RIGDON CSA" marked on the top barrel flat. The barrel wedge is fitted with a modern replacement retaining spring. The hammer has coarse knurling and a groove for a rear sight. rass trigger guard and back strap. The revolver has a one-piece oil-finished walnut grip. The face of the recoil shield lacks a cap channel. All of the visible serial number markings of "836" are matching including the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, butt of the back strap, loading lever, barrel wedge, cylinder, cylinder pin, and handwritten in the back strap mortise of the grip. A "." is stamped after the serial number on the underside of the frame and barrel lug. "N" inspection stamp located on both sides of the front trigger guard bow. Information on these revolvers can be found in Albaugh, Benet and Simmons' book "Confederate Handguns" on pages 39-60. This revolver is accompanied by an analysis of this revolver by Frederick R. Edmunds, Curator of The Confederate States Armory & Museum, in which it is pictured and described in detail. Provenance: The Fred Edmunds Collection; The Joseph A. Murphy Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Fine, remains in a high state of condition for a Confederate used sidearm and one of the finest surviving examples of a Leech & Rigdon revolver, exhibiting smooth gray and brown patina with a few patches of light pitting, five out of six cylinder pins remain in place, and clear barrel and serial number markings with defined edges in the metal overall. Modern replacement spring in the barrel wedge as mentioned above. Brass retains an attractive golden aged patina, and a slightly brighter appearance on the front and rear grip strap areas. Grip is also fine, with scattered dings and dents, a small weathered chip visible at the bottom front corner of the left side, and some light wear around the bottom edges. Mechanically excellent.