This wonderfull gun was sent in from California where it has resided for years. This is a factory engraved gun with factory pearl grips, a very arre gun in and of itself. It has a beautifull inscription on the backstrap, "Presented to Capt. A. W. Bowen By Co. E, 173rd O.V.I.". Our recent research on this gun shows that Bowen was originally mustered into the 6th Ohio in 1861 as a private and was wounded at Chickamauga to muster out in June of '64. He would have also seen service at Shilo and Stones River. He was commissioned into Company E of the 173rd in August of the same year to see service at Nashville. This gun has seen fairly heavy use but has a wonderfull look. The grips are gorgeous and the engraving is still nice. It has a silver plated finish that is contemporary to the period, but appears to have been done after some use or after the war for preservation purposes. It has turned a deep, silver-blue patina and looks awesome. I believe there is a likelihood that this gun is one of two things. It was either captured from the enemy and then plated, inscribed and presented to Bowen, or it was plated by Bowen after the war to preserve it and the memory of his service. Regardless, it is a great, inscribed veteran of the conflict to a soldier that had great history and one who was wounded in battle.