Factory Engraved Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver attributed to Gustave Young and Inscribed to Captain Chauncey McKeever

American Civil War

.31 caliber. 6" octagonal barrel. SN: 101824 (mfg. ca.1855). Blued and color casehardened finish, silver plated brass backstrap and triggerguard, one-piece burled walnut grip. Single action percussion revolver with five chambered smooth round cylinder. Barrel engraved SAML COLT with the lower left of frame engraved COLT'S/PATENT in a two-line arch. Matching serial numbers throughout with the exception of the wedge, which is an unnumbered replacement and the grip which has no visible number in the backstrap cut out. Cylinder with standard Stagecoach Hold Up scene, patent mark and serial number as well. The revolver is factory engraved, as indicated by the punch dot mark below the primary external serial numbers and is almost certainly in the hand of Gustave Young, featuring his doughnut-style foliate scroll engraving with some geometric borders and a shell motif on the top of the backstrap. The hammer nose is engraved with the classic "wolf's head" motif often associated with Young's work. Sights consist of the typical notch in the hammer nose for the rear sight and a brass post front sight. The backstrap is engraved in a single line Capt. Chauncey McKeever.

Chauncey McKeever (1829-1901) was born in Baltimore, MD on August 31, 1829 and was the son of US Navy Commodore Isaac McKeever. Chauncey attended the US Military Academy at West Point and graduated with the class of 1849, being commissioned as a brevet 2nd lieutenant in the 1st US Artillery and subsequently saw service in Florida in the various Seminole campaigns that took place circa 1849-1850. He was made a full 2nd lieutenant in 1850 and transferred to the 3rd US Artillery. He was promoted to 1st lieutenant in 1853 and then saw additional service in San Fransisco, during the Puget Sound War (1855-56) and the Utah Expedition, also known as the Mormon Rebellion (1857-1858). With the outbreak of the American Civil War he was promoted to Captain on August 3, 1861 and discharged from his regular service to the US Adjutant General's Department. He was at the battle of Bull Run and then attached to the staff of General John C Fremont. In July of 1862 he was promoted to major and saw service during the Peninsula Campaign, the Seven Days and 2nd Bull Run. In August of 1862 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and served on the staff of the 3rd Corps. He was breveted colonel and brigadier general on March 13, 1865 for "Meritorious and Faithful Services during the Rebellion." After the war he continued his service with the Adjutant General's Department and saw service at a variety of western postings, eventually reaching the rank of full (non-brevet) colonel prior to his retirement in 1888. He died in Bavaria at the age of 72 in 1901.

The revolver is accompanied by a large binder of research regarding McKeerver, including copies of service records, correspondence, images, etc.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg