Spring 2025 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
May 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th, 2025
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
ICONIC CAPTURED & CARVED CONFEDERATE PALMETTO MUSKET, HILTON HEAD ISLAND
01-26587
Confederate General Thomas F. Drayton was in charge of the important & strategic Port Royal district of South Carolina. He constructed earthen fortifications including Fort Walker where this musket was captured and carved. Drayton, a West Point graduate, owned large plantation with many slaves who he used to build the fortifications that would be overrun by US naval forces November 7, 1861. Among the Union assault was his brother Percival, a life-long US naval officer on USS Susquehanna. The South Carolina troops under Drayton were armed with Palmetto muskets as noted by at least 3 identified survivors taken as souvenirs by victorious Union troops at the November 7 battle. This standard production 1842 musket was made under State of South Carolina contract by William Glaze in 1853, muskets remained in SC armories till issued to troops at beginning of Civil War. This musket was once part of Norm Flayderman’s incredible CW collection and pictured in his Bowie Knife book. Musket conforms to other SC contracted Palmettos, 42″ barrel, stamped on left “W.G&CO” with “V” over “P” over “Palmetto Tree” and “SC”. Lock is among the finest condition examples marked “Palmetto Armory, S*C” around a Palmetto tree forward of lock and rear of lock is well struck “Columbia/S.C. 1852”. The buttplate has “SC” surcharge. Mounted with brass barrel bands, unique to Palmetto. Professionally carved on either side of butt stock “CAPTURED at Hilton Head / South Carolina / Nov. 7th 1861” and “J. Butterworth / U.S. Ship Susquehanna”. Butterworth was sailor on Susquehanna who was part of task force taking Port Royal & Hilton Head. This is the finest example of a Palmetto musket extant with phenomenal Civil War history.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of Dr. Fred Novy’s article on Palmetto Arms, 2017 ASAC; copy of pages from Flayderman’s Bowie book pages showing musket; copy of appraisal on musket. History of battle of Port Royal where weapon was captured.
