Number

Price

     Samuel Griswold set up a cotton gin manufactory along the railroad nine miles south of Macon, Georgia in 1835.  Evidently, Sam was an enterprising man.  He added a foundry, planing mill, saw mill, gristmill and a soap and candle factory.  The area now called Griswoldville grew so much he even added a post office.

     When the South was invaded in 1861, Sam began making pikes for the Georgia Government.

     Arvin Gunnison had begun the manufacture of pistols in New Orleans, Louisiana.  When the city fell to the Yankees in the spring of 1862, Arvin and his machinery moved to Griswoldville.  There he joined with his old friend Sam Griswold and together they made handgun history.

     From July of 1862 until November 22, 1864 when the factory was destroyed by Yankee Cavalry, Griswold and Gunnison produced over 3600 revolvers on the Colt’s pattern.  Today their brass-framed revolvers are one of the most sought after handguns in the world.

     The First Model shown here is extremely well marked: Serial #799 and is marked on the frame, barrel lug, trigger guard and cylinder.  The loading lever and the hammer have the secondary number 99.  This revolver is exceptionally well marked internally as well; the cryptic “J” appears on the underside of the barrel, trigger guard, backstrap, and the frame.  The Roman numeral II is cut into the trigger guard, frame and backstrap.

     Most of the small screws and the mainspring have been replaced.  The wedge looks original to the gun, but it is not numbered, so is likely and old replacement.  The arbor pin was tightened and the end of it slightly filed to remove the rough edge created when it was tightened.  The gun is in good condition inside and out.  The metal is extremely nice; it has a smooth, rich, untouched patina.  Both the barrel and cylinder show good, strong twist lines and the trigger guard was so poorly cast that it required extra finishing at the factory.  The complete rifling remains, but is a bit on the weak side.  The grips are very good.   The action is tight and works well.