Civil War Artifact Being Returned to Museum After 36 Years

During December 2010, the Knoxville Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received a report that a Civil War revolver stolen in 1975 from the Museum of the Confederacy (MOTC) in Richmond, Virginia, may have been recovered in Seymour, Tennessee. The weapon, a .36 caliber Spiller and Burr revolver, is a prized archetype with an estimated value of $50,000.

Ms. Krissy Evans initially discovered the revolver among items belonging to her recently deceased father and contacted an artifacts appraiser to determine the value of the weapon. Following a substantial research effort to establish the authenticity and historical value of the artifact, it was also determined the weapon had been stolen from the MOTC 36 years earlier. Upon learning that the weapon had been stolen, Ms. Evans immediately offered to return the artifact to the museum to ensure the appropriate historical preservation of the gun. Knoxville FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard L. Lambert noted, “Ms. Evans is to be commended for her ethical integrity. By returning this artifact to the museum, Ms. Evans has ensured that it will be preserved and treasured for generations to come.”