^Lot 5062 RARE INSCRIBED CONFEDERATE LEECH & RIGDON REVOLVER

TOM M. C. PAXSON, 6TH VIRGINIA CAVALRY. Cal. 36. S# 1059. This is among the best known of all identified Confederate revolvers with a bold large inscription of backstrap "TMC PAXTON". It was for a long time a favorite in Bill Gary's collection. Mr. Berenson & Mr. Gary were good friends and Bill agreed to sell him much of his collection just prior to his death including this famous revolver. Bill wrote an excellent 1979 Gun Report article "Pvt. Tom Paxson and His Leech & Rigdon" and it is pictured in other publications including Bill's excellent 1987 text "CONFEDERATE REVOLVERS". Thompson Mason Chichester Paxson (1823-1907) from prominent Paxson family of Loudon County, VA. Where he was a farmer near Leesburg. When the war began he joined the 6th Virginia cavalry in July 1861, taking part in most actions of Jeb Stuart's cavalry which the 6th was a part. In September 1864 at a time Paxon likely carried this revolver, he was assigned to the 39th VA Cavalry who served as scouts and couriers and his company was attached to Robert E Lee's HDQ. He did not surrender at Appomattox but did request & receive a presidential pardon in Washington DC in September 1865. He continued farming and according to his obituary had a large farm. During the war he was always a private, but his obituary refers to him as captain. Revolver was made early 1864 and has a wartime repair of utilizing Colt backstrap & cylinder. The revolver appears to have been in this configuration since the war. "LEECH & RIGDON CSA" stamped on barrel. This is an attractive & rarely encountered original inscribed Confederate revolver.UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Bill Gary original collector card; copy of my article "Leech & Rigdon Revolvers. Chronology of Manufacture" Nov. 2023 Military Antique Collector magazine; large file correspondence & research, copies of Paxson's service records; detailed authentication & appraisal report Sept. 1, 2014. CONDITION: very good overall, attractive as configured.PROVENANCE:Bill Gary from unknown estate at Denver Gun Show 1978Published in article "Pvt. Tom Paxson and His Leech & Rigdon", Gun Report February 1979Pictured on pages 19, 21, 168 William A. "Bill" Gary "CONFEDERATE REVOLVERS" 1987Pictured pages 218-219, Dan Hartzler's "Confederate Presentation & Inscribed Swords and Revolvers"Pictured pages 33-34 ASAC bulletin, article on identified Confederate revolvers 49, October 1989David Berenson collection from Bill Gary, January 2014(01-29623/JS). ANTIQUE. $20,000-40,000.