Famous Confederate Revolver Manufacturer Letter

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/21/2021

The Spiller and Burr factory was originally established in Richmond, Virginia, as the brainchild of wealthy businessmen Edward Spiller and David Burr, along with firearms expert James Burton. Burr was a southern sympathizer running a commission business in Baltimore, Maryland; Spiller was born and raised in Richmond where he made steam engines and locomotives. Burton had worked at Harper's Ferry Arsenal, Hall's Rifle Works, Ames Manufacturing Company, and the Royal Small Arms Manufactory. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Confederate Army and he held the role of Superintendent of Armories for the Bureau of Ordnance. Spiller and Burr's Richmond factory moved south in 1862 because Burton had been directed to set up an armory near Atlanta, Georgia. Land proved too expensive in Atlanta, so a site in Macon was selected when the city offered up the land free of charge. After getting settled in Macon in early 1862, production began and continued until the war's end in 1865. Total production was approximately 1,500 units, or only 10% of the optimistic goal of 15,000 set out in their government contract negotiated by Burton. When it came to the actual design of the revolver, the contract specified it to be a Colt copy. Burton overruled this stipulation and decided that the new southern revolver should be based on the Whitney Navy because of reliability, ease of manufacture, and the added strength of a solid frame with a top strap.War-date Confederate Autograph Letter Signed "E.N. Spiller" 1-1/2pp. quarto, Atlanta, Georgia, November 22, 1862, addressed to Colonel Burton, and reads in part: "...We are now about ready to finish up some pistols and I shall aim to have some finished if possible by the end of next week. The rifling machine does not work properly yet, we cannot get it to rifle the barrels smoothly..." More. Fine condition.

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