Description
An incredible find from an estate in North Carolina where it has been in the family for multiple decades! This pistol set was found in a home once lived in by Thomas Lanier Clingman. Thomas Lanier Clingman (July 27, 1812 – November 3, 1897), known as the “Prince of Politicians,” was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1843 to 1845 and from 1847 to 1858, and U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1858 and 1861. During the Civil War, he refused to resign his Senate seat and was one of the many southern state senators subsequently expelled from the Senate in absentia. He then served as a general in the Confederate States Army.
When he first entered the War, Clingman was the commander of the 25th North Carolina Infantry and took part in the Peninsula Campaign. He later commanded a brigade of infantry. Clingman’s Brigade consisted of the 8th, 31st, 51st and 61st North Carolina Infantry. Clingman’s Brigade fought at Goldsborough, Battery Wagner, Drewry’s Bluff, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Globe Tavern, Fort Fisher, and Bentonville.
While there is nothing to attribute the weapon to him, it could easily have been his or that of a family member. The gun is a standard 4″ barrel Colt pocket chambered in .31 percussion. It retains about 95%+ original varnish on the grips, has matching numbers and all markings are crisp and well struck. The action is near flawless and the bore is near mint. The gun shows evidence of having been fired, however, and very little original blue finish remains–it was likely cleaned at some point in time but there is no evidence of harsh abrasives. There is also a chance the weapon may have been shipped “in the white” from the factory as there are other known examples of cased weapons shipped that way. It is too crisp and clear to have been scoured to the point of having no finish at all. Likewise, there is no evidence or traces of silver plate on the triggerguard or backstrap and a weapon made in 1854 generally has that, too.
Either way, it is a very nice cased weapon and all the related extras–Colt marked flask and bullet mold, percussion caps–all included! It is also noted the percussion caps are branded by Winchester, so the weapon must have been used well after the end of the Civil War…Winchester began in 1866!
