#2 Army Engraved Presentation Questions

[red9]

I recently bought this and it is WAY far away from what I usually collect. Serial #14709, shipped to New York agent June, 1863. Case and backstrap have name Sergeant Joseph Luckadoe, U.S.C.T. (United States Colored Troops). It came with a file of copied military records.
Two questions: I'm guessing that the engraving is generic New York?
The holster does not seem sturdy enough to be intended for military use?

Bob

 

[BMur]

Modern work

The case does not look like a period case. It looks modern to me. I also suspect the engraving as being a modern contract job. Modern engravings are becoming more and more common. I honestly don't know what to say about the inscription. As mentioned by the Op the holster doesn't look sturdy enough to hold that gun.

Civil War artifacts should be authenticated before purchased. They are often embellished, unfortunately.

Murph

 

[opoefc]

I have seen several Civil war era S&W revolvers such as Model 1s & 2s with similar paperwork and embellishments attributed to Union Army members, with their military record copies. Usually guns that had no, or very little, usage apparent. While the records were genuine as well as the guns, I doubted the connections asserted between the gun & the soldier. The OP's gun's engraving is not of the quality of the usual New York work of the period and is attempting to copy the Gustav Young style of overlapping scrolls but lacks symmetry . The holster is a period piece and is typical of what was used at that time. Ed

 

[wordsmith]

Having owned this set for several years in the early 2000's, I'd offer the following to those interested to know a few backgorund truths:

The Joseph Luckadoe Model 2 Army is a well known S&W item that has been in a number of major collections over the past 85-90 years, dating back to OGCA founder Miller Bedford during the the 1930's, as well as a couple prominent Civil War - Indian War collections of the 1950's-1960's. It's provenance is impeccable and the stories of Sgt. Luckadoe's life and military service are all true and verified. The engraving is absolutely Nimschke-shop work and the period case is 1870's-1880's manufacture. Not to mention that the holster and the gun go together 'like peas and carrots', as another famous Southerner, also well taught by his momma, once observed about life...

Congratulations 'Red9' ---- enjoy being the new owner of a great piece of S&W and U. S. military history!

David Carroll

 

[BMur]

Engraving comparison

Let’s have some historical fun and do an engraving comparison.
The first four photos are confirmed period engravings from Nimschke-shop work. All were performed on number 2 Army Smith &Wessons during the period of use.

The last photo is the OP’s gun.
You be the judge.

Murph

 

[opoefc]

This Model 2 may well have been the undisputed property of the good Sgt. and never carried in the field, however, here comes the Judge ! That noise you heard was Nimschke turning over in his grave ! Nimschke's pulls of his engravng on S&W are well known and you can see them in his book of pulls. The good Sgt's Model 2 is not listed there because Nimschke never did it. As Murph has posted, you can judge for yourself if the Nimschke quality is there. Perhaps an employee in Nimschke's shop did the work, but it wasn't the master himself. Lop sided scrolls were never done by Nimschke, in my opinion. Sometimes when a gun has been in several great collections it accumulates an aroma of authenticity and provenance. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it ! ( I still love ya , David ! ) Ed