pistol, pocket
Object
Accession Number
983.069Alternate Name
revolver; handgunDescription
One heavily rusted irreparable short-barrel revolver, the hand grips missing, details obscured due to the overall heavy corrosion of the metal.Narrative
This revolver was made by the Ivor Johnson & Company of Massachusetts between 1888 and 1892. It is a "top break" (also known as a "break top") model designed to fire five 38-caliber Smith & Wesson cartridges.Revolvers like this one were typically sold to persons wanting them for personal protection. They were widely available from catalogue retailers like Sears-Roebuck, often for as little as $3.50.
The history of use of this particular revolver makes it an important part of Craigdarroch's Primary Collection.
SPECIAL NOTE: This revolver has been examined by an inspector with British Columbia's Ministry of Attorney General and deemed to be permanently disabled.
History of Use
In the 1960's, this revolver was found buried in Craigdarroch's southeast crawlspace by a boy named Ted Eby. From about 1969 to 1981, it sat in one of Craigdarroch's library bookcase drawers. Eventually, it was displayed in a library bookcase, and since about 1986 it has been in storage.This revolver has undoubtedly been at Craigdarroch for a very long time. While its precise history of use is unknown, there is information that indicates a possibility that it was used for security purposes at the Castle during the Dunsmuir era.
On August 28, 2013 Craigdarroch's Curator interviewed Mrs. Edna Chow of Victoria. She was born in Victoria in 1921, the daughter of Wong Wai Quong (b. Aug. 20, 1884, Canton, China) and Oylene Louie (b. Nov. 23, 1896, Shuswap Lake, B.C.). Mrs. Chow explained some of her family history. She said that she once knew a man named Peter Lee (Li?) who told her that he had once lived and worked at Craigdarroch as a “houseboy” for Joan Dunsmuir. He told Mrs. Chow that Mrs. Dunsmuir was “very stern”. He further explained that if he went downtown in the evening, he was required to be back at Craigdarroch by a certain time. He would walk home, and was sometimes nervous to return to the Castle in the dark because there were armed guards on duty at the Castle. Mrs. Chow elaborated that Peter Lee (Li?) came to Victoria in about 1902 and that his relatives owned the “Tai Young Opium Factory”. Mrs. Chow advised that Mr. Lee (Li?) never married and had no children.
Perhaps this revolver had been used by a night watchman on the Castle's grounds. Another possibility is that it once belonged to a patient or staff member at Craigdarroch Military Hospital.
During the time that the revolver was displayed in Craigdarroch's library showcase, it drew considerable interest from current and retired law enforcement personnel. The consensus among them was it was highly unusual for someone to just discard or bury a revolver unless it had been used for some nefarious purpose.
