This is the rarest of the rare, one of four known examples of a round frame Confederate Spiller & Burr percussion revolver. This revolver is chambered in the standard .36 Navy caliber and features a large cone front sight mounted on the octagon barrel, frame groove rear sight, six-shot cylinder with six cylinder stops, rounded edges on the frame as opposed to the standard hard edges on Spiller & Burr revolvers, and walnut grips. The matching serial number "1066" is marked on the bottom of the barrel, loading lever, cylinder pin, frame under the trigger guard, underside of the trigger guard, butt, and handwritten on the underside of both grip panels, with the cylinder unnumbered. The barrel and cylinder are blue finished, the hammer, loading lever, and trigger are casehardened with a blue outer finish, and the brass frame and trigger guard were originally silver plated. The silver plated finish, which is a feature not seen on standard production Spiller & Burr revolvers, in combination with the extra attention paid to fit and finish of this revolver, are a possible indication that it may have been made for presentation to a high ranking government official. Two other known examples of round frame Spiller & Burr revolvers are also known to have silver plated frames and are bearing serial numbers 1169 and 1076 and a third round frame bearing serial number 1079 reportedly exists (finish unknown at time of writing). Although this rare round frame example is an exception to the overall production total; according to some sources, approximately 700 Spiller & Burr percussion revolvers were manufactured in Atlanta, Georgia, circa 1862-1864, and another roughly 700 were manufactured at the Macon Armory after the firm was purchased by the Confederacy in January of 1864. Bill Gary's book, "Confederate Revolvers," differs in that it states that the Atlanta partnership manufactured 840 revolvers before the Confederate government takeover and further states that Macon Armory manufactured only approximately 400 revolvers before closing upon the approach of General Sherman's forces. Production started with a very optimistic government contract of about 15,000 revolvers in 1862, but was stopped in November 1864 due to Sherman's March to the Sea. The revolvers are patterned after the Whitney Navy Model, with a distinctive solid brass frame. Confederate Spiller & Burr revolvers rarely become available on the collector's market, and this is the second example we have had the privilege to sell of only four known round frames in total; an immensely rare and desirable Confederate revolver in a high state of condition!

Exceptionally fine, retains 85% attractive period high polish blue finish on the barrel, loading lever and cylinder with some light freckling and smooth brown patina on the balance. Strong traces of silver finish are visible in protected areas including a few of the edges on the frame and trigger guard and strongest on the grip frame hidden beneath the grip panels, with attractive golden aged patina on the exposed brass. The grips are very good with a chipped/absent section on the bottom rear edge of the left panel, chips along the edges, numerous scattered scratches and dents, and otherwise defined edges. Mechanically excellent. This is only the second example Rock Island Auction Company has ever offered of a rare, one of four known, round frame Spiller & Burr revolver. Make no mistake, this is likely a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire this extreme rarity!