The Spiller & Burr Revolver

The keys to this gun being identified are actually the cylinder and the topstrap. The original cylinders were made of iron, and the topstraps were very thin and thus took a beating. Other variations, trigger guard, etc, can be attributed to the manufacturing process and the different lcoations where they were made. Some were stamped Spiller & Burr, some CS, some CSA, some not stamped at all.
So, what if this cylinder is made of iron? Does that mean it's an original? Maybe, maybe not. But the topstrap is in great shape, it's not weak, or thin, so to me that is the key.
Is it a fake or a defarbed repro? I haven't seen too many, or any, fake Spiller & Burrs, but a few defarbed ones. Fake would imply a conscious effort to deceive on the part of the seller/owner.
Do I think it's an original? Like I said, I'm 80% to 90% sure it's not. Someday I might have an "expert" look at it, if I could determine what qualifies someone as an expert in regards to such an obscure revolver (unlike a Colt expert), but until then, it's not really an issue with me. But it is interesting.
Check out this gun - is it an original Whitney or a Palmetto repro?
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Modern replicas of the Spiller and Burr have steel cylinders, that's the easiest way to tell that I know of. Some, not all of the originals had C.S. stamped on the. None had CSA that I am aware of.
This is a modern manufacter, maker unknown. It appears to be defarbed.
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This one is original
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Correct. But the store that sold it to me said it was a pre-Italian Whitney repro. They should have known better. Oh well, my gain.
 
I saw the gun in the case, saw the word "Whitney" on the tag, and asked to see it. I looked it over real well and couldn't see any Italian proofmarks or anything except "E.Whitney N.Haven" on the barrel. The salesman said it was a repro, and the reason there were no marks was that it was made in the 50's, a "pre-Italian repro." Price: $350.00
I think I melted my credit card when I ripped it out of my wallet.
Now, this store, Kittery Trading Post, has zillions of guns. My point is that this gun fooled their "experts" the wrong way.
I'd like to bring the Spiller & Burr to someone who can tell me more about it, but who? Who can you trust?
 
I plan on attending the Baltimore Antique Arms Show in March. I doubt they will have a Spiller & Burr -- they are very rare -- but if they do, I want to handle it. I am guessing that the grip on the originals is more comfortable than the grip on the Italian replicas, but I want to know for sure. Insignificant things like this interest me for no good reason. :)

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I'd like to bring the Spiller & Burr to someone who can tell me more about it, but who? Who can you trust?
Click to expand...

Send an email with good pics to rafael@shilohrelics.com Rafe is a Civil War expert and dealer. He does appraisals for Antiques Roadshow. He knows his stuff. I know him personally and he'll tell you like it is whether you like it or not.
 
Pohill and Spiller&Burrs

I should have listened to you years ago about the S&B, I lke the B-gees out a mine. My favorite .36 and a C.S.A. ta boot (although I'd trade ya for that Yankee Whitney) Thanks to you I have my Rogers& Spencer from the Kittery, and got an ROA cause a you. They got along very well with my Remingtomn family. Sophia A. Uberti still being the Qeen of the house and well protected.
Original or not and I have one I am still not sure of myself (an 1862 Colt Pocket Police that I was told it an original) will post so any experts can verify or let me know the differance. I like the heck out of it and that's all that matters, but verification would be pleasing to the eyes. All numbers are in all the right places & matching including font and depth. SN & Address: SN96656
~ ADDRESS SAM L COLT HARTFORD CONN ~
SPILLER&BURR #78(SA0078)
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COLT 1862 POCKET POLICE SN96656
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The Serial Numbers I am told sometimes continued from one model Colt to another, (ex. 1861 Navy sn96655 to an 1862 Pocket Police sn96656. But I don't know so I am askin'... if anyone can trace this number to anything I'd apreciated you lettin' me know.

Thanks,

SG
 
I wonder if any S&Bs went out West after the war. I guess less than 1500 were made(?), but I want to think that at least a handful of S&B owners joined in the westward migration. Such a gun would have drawn attention from across a campfire, to say the least.
 
This S&B was used in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) during the War and most likely remained there with its owner (General Cooper) after the cessation of hostilities.

http://www.civilwaralbum.com/indian/ohs6.htm

There is a minor error on the webpage, regarding the "frame" of the gun. I sent a short e-mail to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
 
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I'd like to visit the Oklahoma Historical Society. Nice pics.

I've been here - http://www.museumofcthistory.org/colt.asp
They have quite a few prototypes that Colt never put into production - a Dragoon with a top strap, a revolving .70 caliber rifle that was too big to carry, stuff like that. Original cased Patersons, original Walkers, etc. Great place.

But I've yet to see one of these in any museum (if anyone has one or knows someone who does, get in touch with me and we can swap info):
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I just read Colonel Burton's Spiller & Burr Revolver at a local college library. Production of the S&B was severely hampered by a dearth of skilled workmen. Also of note: during the final month of production, in July of 1864, nearly half of the 92 revolvers produced had steel (not iron) cylinders. They had received a shipment of steel sometime in June. A high percentage of twisted iron cylinders were failing during factory testing, and so they were eager to receive the steel shipment. Sherman's Army was encroaching on the city of Macon, however, and the S&B's workmen were called upon to help defend the city. This effectively ended production of the revolver.
 
I like the price of that Whitney - not as a buyer but as a seller.
They say that the Spiller & Burr was a Whitney copy but I never figured out what Whitney model they copied. I think mine is a 2nd Model, 3rd type. Here's a pic of the Whitney and the repro Spiller & Burr (yup, I called it a repro). Note the cylinders in the next pic (Whitney on right).
What's interesting about the Whitneys is that the frames are made of iron - that's why they turn that plumb brown (from what I've been told - I still can't tell steel from iron)
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This is the trigger guard before I cleaned it up. Note the Whitney Eagle off to the left of the numbers.
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