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LOT 3381
Scarce Colt Hartford-
English Dragoon Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 248, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/
casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This is one of only approximately 700 Colt Hartford- English Dragoon revolvers manufactured between 1853 and 1857, with parts manufactured at Colt
Hartford and final assembly and finish performed at Colt’s London factory. These are among the rarest of the Colt “Horse Pistols”
descended from the famous Colt Walker revolver. A large number of these revolvers remained unsold and were imported into the U.S. around the beginning of the Civil War. This example has a German silver blade front sight, “-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY” marked on the top
barrel flat, London proofmarks on the barrel and cylinder, “COLT’S/PATENT” marked on the left of the four-screw frame, The “MODEL U.S.M.R.” and Texas Rangers and Comanche fight scene on the cylinder, and matching serial numbers visible on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, wedge, cylinder, cylinder pin, and handwritten in black ink inside the grip mortise. The walnut grip has been checkered, and the trigger is knurled.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 20% original blue finish in protected areas of the barrel with brown patina on the balance, smooth gray patina on the cylinder and frame with a few traces of original case colors, patches of original silver plated finish visible around the trigger guard and butt with golden aged patina on the exposed brass, recut cylinder scene, and scattered light to mild freckling overall on the iron surfaces. The period refinished grip is also very good, with some mild dents and handling marks, a few mild chips on the bottom left edge, and mostly defined checkering with a few chipped diamond panels. Mechanically functions, the cylinder is out of time.
Provenance: The John Fox Collection; The Bobby Smith Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 3382
Fine Cased Colt London Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver - Serial
no. 26316, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish,
walnut grips. Colt’s Model 1851 Navy revolver proved to be very popular
in the U.K. initially following the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. “The
Observer” of London on November 23, 1851, under the heading “Colt’s
Revolvers” noted, “No weapon has attracted more attention than the
American revolvers of which several specimens were exhibited during
the recent Exhibition” and also noted that the British government had
approved the Colt for officers in Africa and India and that this sanctioning
had, “not only served to clear the shelves and counters of the American
department of the Exhibition, but has been the means of obtaining a
large number of orders to be executed for persons in this country.” Herbert
Houze in ‘Samuel Colt: Arms, Art and Invention’ on page 9 notes that the
British Board of Ordnance contracted with Colt for 25,540 Model 1851
Navy revolvers mainly for the Royal Navy, and Colt also sold an estimated
5,000 to 10,000 revolvers to officers. Within a few years, however, sales
slowed following the end of the Crimean War and as the Beaumont-Adams
and other British designs gained traction. This revolver was manufactured
in 1855 and has the large oval steel trigger guard, steel back strap, wide
cylinder nipple cut-outs, bordered knurling on the hammer spur, and
round head frame and trigger guard screws that are typical of Colt London
Navy revolvers. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped “-ADDRESS. COL: COLT,
LONDON.-” and London “Crown/GP” and “Crown/V” proof and inspection
marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel lug and alternating
between each nipple on the cylinder. The barrel, cylinder, and grip straps have a high polish blue finish, and the lever, frame, and hammer are color casehardened. The walnut grip has a high polish piano varnish finish. All matching visible serial numbers marked on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, wedge, loading lever, cylinder pin, and cylinder. Includes a walnut case with red felt lining, cleaning rod, “L” shaped combination tool, “COLT’S/PATENT” and “36 B” marked blued ball/bullet mold, key, Eley’s cap tin, and a James Dixon & Sons powder flask.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% plus original blue finish on the barrel with sharp markings and edges, 40% plus original blue finish on the cylinder with a distinct roll scene, some flaking and smooth brown patina on the balance of the blued surfaces, 75% muted original case colors, most of the original silver plated finish on the grip straps with a slightly dulled appearance, and mostly smooth gray patina on the balance. The grip is very fine with minor edge wear, some dents and scratches, and retains the majority of its original varnish finish. Mechanically fine. The case and accessories are also fine and have mild age and storage related wear, with some scattered scratches and a few minor chips on the outside of the case. This is a fine London Colt with its cased set.
Provenance: The Warren Mariconda Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
222 Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500