Original British Military Cartridge Revolver with Holster and Letter- Named to Brigadier General Gerald Graham, VC, Dated 1882 Original Items

Original Items: One-of-a-Kind Set. This is an early officer’s private purchase revolver dated 1882 in.455 caliber. It closely follows the pattern of the 1878 Adams cartridge revolver design. It was sold and marked by the retailer-

W.HORTON, UNION STREET, GLASGOW

The pistol is of superior design and finish and comes in the original leather officer’s flap holster which could have been used with a Sam Browne style belt and cross strap. The revolver retains 8o% of the original commercial quality blued finish and comes with a one piece checkered walnut grip. The grip bears a silver escutcheon engraved-

BRIGADIER GENERAL G.GRAHAM V.C. 1882

Lieutenant General Sir Gerald Graham, VC GCB GCMG (27 June 1831 – 17 December 1899) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was born in Acton, Middlesex, and after studying at Wimbledon and Dresden he was admitted (1847) to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich and completed his military training in the School of Military Engineering at Chatham.

He was 23 years old when he was awarded the Victoria Cross, a lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 18 June 1855 in the Crimea, Lieutenant Graham, accompanied by a sapper (John Perie) showed determined gallantry at the head of a ladder party at the assault on the Redan at Sebastopol. He also went out on numerous occasions to bring in wounded officers and men.

Included with this remarkable named revolver and holster comes an original hand written letter addressed “My dear Gerald” dated 26th February 1870 making arrangements for a personal family meeting and signed “C. G. Gordon” (CHARLES GEORGE GORDON) the famous British General killed at Khartoum in 1884. Apparently the two men were friends from their China days of the 1860s and up until General Gordon’s tragic death. This letter provides wonderful provenance of two comrade officers who were friends for more than 20 years.

The revolver, almost certainly, has no direct connection to General Gordon but was obtained just before Major General Graham embarked for Egypt in 1882 later to try and save General Gordon at Khartoum.

In summation we offer a named British officer’s early cartridge revolver complete with the matched original slightly worn leather Sam Browne holster together with a personal handwritten letter and stamped envelope addressed personally to him from one of the most renowned British General Officers of the Victorian era. Amazing.