.43 caliber octagonal-barrel revolver. London: J. Adams. Checkered walnut grips. Barrel finely engraved: "United States South / Thomas F. Guion / New Orleans Agent.” Left side of frame engraved “Patent No. 1665.”

A rare and finely engraved English‑made revolver produced for the American market by J. Adams of London. This rare revolver (only a few other examples are known) was made and engraved for Thomas F. Guion, proprietor of a “fancy goods” and sporting‑goods establishment at the corner of St. Charles and Common Streets in New Orleans (ca. 1838–1861).

As sectional tensions rose in the 1840s and 1850s, New Orleans retailers such as Guion served as key intermediaries for imported arms destined for the Gulf South. Guns such as the one offered here were marketed to militia officers, volunteer companies, and private purchasers who were equipping themselves up to the eve of secession. Surviving, agent‑marked examples like this one document commercial channels and how the international antebellum arms trade underpinned the South’s armament before the Union’s blockade in 1861.

The gun is mechanically functional and in near-pristine condition, with ~95% its original blue retained.

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Firearm, Colt, Pistol, Revolver, Rifle, Musket, Smith and Wesson, Springfield]