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LOT 277
Rare Savage & North “Figure 8” Fourth
Model Iron Frame Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 31, 36 cal.,
6 7/8 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured
between 1856-1859, the Fourth Model reportedly had a total
production of only approximately 50 (per Flayderman’s Guide). The
Savage & North Fourth Model “Figure 8” revolver is nearly identical to the
Third Model, but is distinguished by its iron frame. The loading lever housing
has the H.S. North patent date marking. The top
of the frame is marked “E. SAVAGE MIDDLETOWN,
CT. /H.S.NORTH.PATENTED.JUNE.17th 1856”. The
six-shot revolver features the unusual ring-trigger
action in which the ring trigger revolves the
cylinder and cocks the hammer. It is fired with a
second trigger which fits in the curved arm of the
lower trigger. Features a brass cone front sight and
a notched lug rear sight dovetailed into the top of
the frame. Number “31” is visible on the bottom
of the loading lever, side of the hammer (requires
removal of the sideplate for viewing), front surface of the sideplate, and on the underside of both grip panels. These early Savage revolvers were redesigned and became the more widely used Savage Navy model manufactured during the Civil War and purchased by the U.S. government.
CONDITION: Good, with a mix of gray and brown patina overall with scattered light to mild pitting and wear. The grips are also good as sanded and re-oiled, with mild wear, scattered dents and scratches,
a few small chips, cracks and a few spliced repaired sections visible. The hammer occasionally will not remain in full cock when using the cocking lever, otherwise mechanically fine.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 278
Exceptional and Extremely Rare Remington
New Model Police “Buntline” Revolver with 6 1/2 Inch
Barrel - Serial no. 3866, 36 percussion cal., 6 1/2 inch octagon
bbl., blue/silver finish, rosewood grips. Only an estimated 18,000
New Model Police revolvers were manufactured total between
1865 and 1873 in percussion and then many were converted for metallic cartridges
thereafter. This exceptional example remains in original percussion form and has the
desirable 6 1/2 inch barrel length and a pair of smooth rosewood grips. The shorter
barrel lengths were far more common than the longer barrel lengths. 6 1/2 inch barrels
were the longest offered
and are the scarcest.
The few that are known
in this barrel length in
original percussion form
are generally well used
unlike this example. The
barrel is numbered “663” on the bottom, and the frame and grips are marked “3866.” It has a German silver half moon front sight and the standard frame groove rear sight. It has a blue finish on the major components, a nitre blue finish on the screws, and a silver plated finish on the brass trigger guard. CONDITION: Very fine. 85% of the bright original high polish blue finish remains with the balance patches of brown patina. The hammer has subdued case colors, and the trigger guard retains silver plating in the protected areas. The grips are very good with only a few slight dings and minor edge wear. The action functions. Most of the markings are crisp although those on the barrel are lightly struck by the factory. This is the finest 6 1/2 inch barreled Remington New Model Police we have ever had the pleasure of offering at auction.
240 Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 279
Very Scarce Civil War Era Butterfield Army Model Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 396, 41 cal., 7 inch octagon bbl., blue/silver finish, walnut grips. The Butterfield
Revolvers were
manufactured
by Jesse
Butterfield of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1862. They are considered
by collectors to be secondary U.S. martial handgun since they were
manufactured in anticipation of an unrealized government contract. Because
no contract was awarded, production was limited to only about 640 revolvers.
It is equipped with a special disc priming device loaded by loosening a thumb-screw in front of the trigger guard. The top strap is marked “BUTTERFIELD’S/PATENT DEC 11. 1855/PHILADA”. The matching serial number “396” is visible on various components.
CONDITION: Good with the brass showing an attractive golden aged patina, well defined original top
According to author Norm Flayderman, approximately 50 Savage & North Figure 8 Fourth Model revolvers were produced.
strap maker/patent markings and scattered light to mild pitting and freckling on the iron surfaces with gray patina. The refinished grips are also good, with scattered scratches and dents, a small absent chipped corner at the front of the left panel above the trigger guard, restamped numbers on the butt, and large reglued cracked sections on either side at the bottom (glued against the brass grip strap). Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 280
Approximately 640 Butterfield Army Model revolvers were produced.
Exceptional U.S.
Martially Inspected
Civil War Contract Starr
1858 Double Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 4815,
44 percussion cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut
grips. Approximately 23,000 of these revolvers were manufactured
in the late 1850s and early 1860s, most of them for the government.
Standard “STARR. ARMS. Co. NEW. YORK.” address on left side of frame,
“STARR’S PATENT JAN. 15, 1856” on the right. Serial numbers match on the
front of the barrel lug, in the hammer well and front of the hammer, and the
cylinder is mismatched (5014). There are small “W” inspection marks on
some of the components. The revolver is fitted with a smooth one piece
walnut grip with a crisp four letter cartouche on the lower left side.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. The revolver retains 85% plus of the
bright original high polish blue finish with scattered flaking and a
smooth brown patina on the grip straps and front strap which also shows
some minor pitting. The hammer retains 95% of the original vivid case
colors. The grips is excellent with a few minor dings and crisp cartouche. The markings are clear. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Phillip Otto Clark Collection.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 281
Very Scarce and
Exceptional
Civil War Era Hoard’s Armory
Freeman Army Model Percussion Revolver - Serial
no. 305, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Approximately 2,000 manufactured c. 1863-1864. The Ordnance Department
originally ordered 5,000, but the contract ultimately was not filled. However, some of
these revolvers were purchased for use during the Civil War on the state and private
level. These revolvers have an interesting method of securing and removing the cylinder:
a small switch on the right side that when pressed forward allows the cylinder and pin to
fall out to the right. Equipped with a 20th century modified blade front sight and frame groove rear sight
with “FREEMAN’S PAT. DECR 9. 1862” on the right of the sight groove and “HOARD’S ARMORY, WATERTOWN,
N.Y.” on the left. Matching serial number “305” marked on the bottom of the barrel, loading lever, frame, rear
face of the cylinder, right of the grip frame and handwritten on the underside of the left grip panel.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 75% plus original bright “royal blue” finish with scattered scratches and marks
with smooth brown and gray patinas on the balance, and strong original vivid case colors on the hammer.
The grips are very good with smooth oiled finish, some light nicks and handling marks, and a few chipped diamonds with otherwise well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Phillip Otto Clark Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500