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LOT 3360
Exceptional Kidder Presentation Cased Factory Engraved Colt Model 1849 Pocket Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 91584, 31 cal., 5 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, antique ivory grips. The Colt Model 1849 Pocket took the world by storm in the mid-19th century and became Samuel Colt’s most popular percussion revolver design with over 325,000 manufactured by 1873. Stunning factory engraved examples like this one were well-suited for a gentleman who wished to defend himself in antebellum America. This exceptional revolver was manufactured in 1854 and comes in a rare and highly desirable Kidder case with accessories. The engraving is the classic high end German- American style that was popularized at Colt in the mid-1850s and is widely associated with Gustave Young who became the primary engraving contractor for Colt in 1855. Many of the other talented German immigrant engravers working
for Colt at the time also engraved in very similar styles. The rear half of the barrel sides and upper flats, frame, loading lever, trigger guard bow, butt and upper and lower back strap are engraved with the iconic Germanic entwining scroll
engraving with floral bloom accents, a disgorging dog head by the wedge screw and another animal mask by the hammer screw on the left side of the frame, and an eagle head above the wedge on the right. The hammer has a
bestial mask design on the sides. The top barrel flat is engraved “Saml Colt” in Old English style, and “COLTS/PATENT” is hand inscribed in a kidney shaped panel on the left side of the frame. The cylinder is roll engraved with the
stagecoach holdup scene. Matching serial numbers are marked on the cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap, and the matching last four digits are marked on the loading lever arm, wedge, and arbor pin. There are factory dot markings above or below the lower serial numbers marking the revolver for factory engraving.
The revolver is complete with a rare mahogany Kidder case with five compartments, brass corner protectors and brown velvet lining. Included in the case is a crossed revolvers and eagle motif powder flask, an early style brass
ball/bullet mold without a sprue cutter with “COLTS/PATENT” and “S” markings, Eley Bros. cap tin marked “Made expressly for/Colt’s PT/Belt and Pocket/Pistols,” and a .31 caliber cartridge pack.
The inside rear upper edge of the case is stamped “MANUFACTURED/SOLELY BY W. KIDDER.” and “PATENT. APR. 1854.”
CONDITION: Very fine with crisp engraving, 90% plus bright original high polish blue finish on the barrel, 50% original blue on the cylinder along with a crisp cylinder scene and four of the five safety pins, 98% plus of the age darkened original silver plating on the grip straps, 40% of the muted original case colors on the frame as well as the hammer and loading lever,
and generally only minor overall wear. The grip is also very fine and has attractive natural aged patina and grain, slight shrinkage from age, and very light handling and storage wear. Mechanically
excellent. The Kidder case is very fine and has a mild age and storage related wear, crisp markings, and some fading and contact wear on the lining. The accessories are also very fine. The mold has light verdigris overall. The flask retains the vast majority of its varnish, and the tin and cartridge pack have
minor storage wear. This is a beautiful example of an extraordinarily fine factory engraved Colt Model 1849 Pocket complete with a highly desirable Kidder case and accessories.
Provenance: The Norm Vegely Collection.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500