Charles H. Rigdon began in the revolver business before the war as an engineer for Shawk and McLanahan in St. Louis. After the war began, he moved to Memphis with some machinery and teamed up with Thomas Leech (not "Leach") to set up a revolver works in that city. On May 9, 1862, with the approach of Federal forces, Beauregard ordered evacuation of arms plants, and L&R pulled out and moved to Columbus, MS, and on December 15 moved on to Greensboro, GA.
This was the first place L&R revolvers were actually made. They got a contract from the C.S. government on March 6, 1863. Guns made after that are reportedly marked "CSA" on the barrel. The L&R partnership ended in December, 1863, and Rigdon moved to Augusta, GA, where he went into partnership with Jesse Ansley and others to form Rigdon and Ansley.
The number of guns made is in dispute, but the highest serial number of a Leech & Rigdon revolver is reported to be 1461, with 1546 being a Rigdon and Ansley, with the characteristic 12 notches.
The revolvers were fairly good copies of the Colt Model 1851 and seem to have been serviceable.
Tens of thousands of reproductions have been made in Italy with the Leech & Rigdon marking, and thousands more repros have been re-marked with that legend. In other words, fakes are far more common than original pistols.
As to value, a L&R in excellent condition can be traded about even for a Lexus. The repros bring $100 or so; pure fakes even less if identified.
WARNING: The antique arms market, and the Confederate part in particular, is a minefield for the unwary, and a high stakes poker game. Don't buy in unless you have plenty of money. Then, study, study, and more study, is the rule, plus trying to locate and see as many of the particular gun of interest as possible. One thing to remember is that the Italian repros are a lot better made and finished than the originals. Another good rule is that if it is genuine, you can't afford it. The L&R at the flea market is like the Rembrandt in the attic. It may have happened once, but the odds are it won't happen to you (or me).
Much of the above info is from Bill Edward's Civil War Guns, and from Confederate Handguns by Albaugh, Benet and Simmons.
Jim
