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LOT 3383
Fine Cased Colt Model 1849 Pocket Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 148348, 31 cal., 5 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/ silver finish, walnut grips. This fine condition Colt Model 1849 Pocket was manufactured in 1858. Features
a cone front sight,
“{ADDRESS SAML
COLT/NEW YORK
CITY}” on the top
flat, “2” on the barrel lug on the left, stagecoach cylinder scene, “COLT/PATENT” on the frame, “G” on the left shoulder of the trigger guard, and matching visible serial numbers. The case has dark green lining and contains an early brass ball/bullet mold without a sprue cutter, an Eley Bros. cap tin, key, and small Great Seal of the U.S. themed flask.
CONDITION: Fine with 70% plus original blue finish on the barrel, traces of original blue finish on the cylinder, 50% muted original case colors, 95% original silver plating remaining and displaying a dark aged patina, and minor overall wear. The grip is very fine and has most of the original varnish remaining and only some light handling and storage wear. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are very good with mild age and storage related wear, including thin cracks in the lid. The Colt Model 1849 Pocket was the most popular Colt revolver of the 19th century and were carried by Americans of numerous walks of life, but this one was clearly tucked away and cared for over the last 165 years!
Provenance: The Ron Peterson Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3384
Very Fine Civil
War Era Colt Model
1849 Percussion Pocket Revolver - Serial
no. 200432, 31 cal., 6 inch octagon bbl., blue/
casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1862. The
top barrel flat is marked “-ADDRESS SAML COLT/HARTFORD CT.-” and the left
side of the frame is marked “COLTS/PATENT”. The cylinder has the stagecoach
hold up scene and “COLTS PATENT/NO. 200432”. The complete matching serial
number is marked on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap while the partial number is
also on the wedge, loading lever, and cylinder pin.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% plus original blue finish with scattered flaking and smooth
brown patina on the balance, 60% plus original case colors with smooth gray patina on the
balance, 40% plus original silver finish with attractive bright golden patina on the exposed brass, with a sharp cylinder scene and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. The grip is also fine, with light edge wear and some scattered light handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3385
Desirable “Wells Fargo Model” Colt
Model 1849 Pocket Percussion Revolver - Serial no.
149619, 31 cal., 3 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver
finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1856. This is a scarce Model
1849 Pocket Model variation with a three inch barrel without provisions
for a loading lever, a solid lug without loading slots, and otherwise standard
Model 1849 markings and features including matching visible serial numbers
on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, wedge, cylinder and cylinder pin.
Initials “H.L.” carved in the left of the grip.
CONDITION: Very good, exhibits mostly smooth brown patina with scattered areas of mild pitting on the iron, and the brass shows a bright patina, with strong traces of original silver finish at some of the edges. The grip is also very good, with some light wear, scattered light scratches and handling marks, and the mentioned carvings. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3386
Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 60757, 36 cal.,
7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1856. Features a brass cone front sight, “-ADDRESS SAML
COLT NEW-YORK CITY-” on the top of the barrel, “COLTS/PATENT” marked frame, standard navy
battle cylinder scene, small single-letter sub-inspection marks, and all matching visible serial
numbers including handwritten (very faint/partial) in black ink inside the grip mortise.
CONDITION: Fine with mostly smooth gray patina, scattered mild brown spotting and patches
of pitting on the barrel, 40% plus original case colors, 60% original silver plated finish mostly concentrated on the trigger guard/front strap with golden aged patina showing on the balance of the exposed brass, and sharp cylinder scene and markings in the metal overall. The grip is very good with scattered mild dents and scratches and some light edge wear. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Dick Cowles Collection; The Bob Blom Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3387
Colt Model 1855 “Root” Sidehammer
Percussion Pocket Revolver - Serial no. 6612,
31 cal., 3 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
This Model 5 version of the Model 1855 was manufactured in 1862
and has the two-line New York barrel address, a fluted cylinder with
patent marking on one of the flutes, and “31 CAL”
marked on the right side of the frame. An included old
handwritten note with this lot states “this pistol” was
liberated from a German baron’s hunting lodge in 1944
by an illegible name of the 166th Combat Engineer
Battalion. Given their sleek design which departs
heavily from the usual Colt percussion revolvers along
with their limited production and several production
variations, these revolvers have long been popular with collectors.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% plus original blue finish with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, a few patches of mild pitting, and some evidence of filing on the left muzzle end of the barrel. The grip is also fine, with some light edge wear, scattered light scratches, and a few small chips on the front edge. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
LOT 3388
Fine Metropolitan Arms Co. Navy Model
Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 3717, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl.,
blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. These were manufactured
by Metropolitan Arms Co. as a very close copy of the Colt Model 1851
Navy revolver with production commencing around the time of Colt’s February
1864 fire and continuing until about 1866, and serve as an important footnote in the history
of early revolvers. Pin front and hammer notch rear sights, with one-line “<METROPOLITAN
ARMS Co. NEW-YORK>” address marked on top of the barrel, Battle of New Orleans naval scene
roll-stamped on the cylinder, and matching numbers on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt,
cylinder, loading lever, wedge and handwritten inside the grip mortise.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% original blue finish and 50% muted original case colors with smooth brown and gray patina on the balance, 20% original silver finish with attractive golden aged patina on the exposed brass, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. The grip is very fine with much of the original varnish, some scuffs and dents, and minor edge wear. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
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