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LOT 206
Rare Documented Engraved Collier Second Model Percussion Conversion Revolver - Serial no. 48, 44 Bore cal., 6 3/8 inch solid rib bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut grips. The Collier revolving cylinder firearms are very rare and historically significant firearms. Less than 250 total are estimated to have been manufactured across four variations, and they are rarely available. The design was actually first patented in the U.S. by Artemus Wheeler of Concord, Massachusetts, on June 10, 1818. Elisha Haydon Collier patented on an improvement
of the design in the United Kingdom on November 24 of the same year, and Cornelius Coolidge patented Collier’s improved design in France on August 5, 1819. “Collier & Co., Gunmakers” of London in 1818-1827 sold variations of the design in the form of pistols, rifles, carbines and shotguns.
The design allows for several quick shots, especially considering that the era was dominated by single shot muzzleloading firearms. After experimenting with clockwork-assisted rotation in the First Model, these Second Model Colliers have manually rotated cylinders and automatic primers. On these Second Models, the lock is brought to half-cock, and then the cylinder is pulled rearward and rotated by
hand. When the cylinder is in place, a rebate at the front of the cylinder envelopes a shoulder on the barrel at the breech creating a tight seal. It remains unclear whether Collier & Co. manufactured any of these firearms aside from perhaps the prototypes, and it appears they likely had them manufactured by other London gunmakers. Per Howard L. Blackmore in “Gunmakers of London, 1350-1850,” the guns were manufactured by John Evans (John Evans & Son) in London, and then the patent was taken over by William Mills around 1830, and some revolvers were sold by a partnership between Mills and Collier. Blackmore also notes William Elliot Lee of London as patenting the design
in Paris in 1823, and he may have been an agent or manufacturer for Collier as well. Other gunmakers, such as Samuel Nock, are believed to have been involved in manufacturing at least some of the finished guns or components.
This historically significant revolver is Collier number 48 from c. 1820 and was originally a flintlock revolver but was then period converted to percussion. As such, it is an important link between the 2nd Model Collier flintlock revolvers and the 3rd Model Collier percussion revolvers and also an important predecessor to Samuel Colt’s Paterson revolvers. Colt is believed to have seen Collier revolvers on his 1830-31 voyage to England and India as a sailor on the Corvo and to have been influenced by the design. The Collier patents and testimony from Collier were part of the 1851 court case brought by Colt against the Massachusetts Arms Co. because Colt’s patent was considered an improvement on the Collier and Wheeler patents.
This revolver is featured in figure 13 in the American Society of Arms Collectors article “Collier and His Revolvers” by Clay Bedford where it is listed as “Second Model No. 48, Converted to Percussion.” Bedford also writes, “Figure 13 shows a second model pistol (Collier #48) converted to percussion by removing the shroud and screwing nipples into the cylinder touch holes, then replacing the flint with a percussion hammer and removing the priming magazine. The number is marked on spindle, cylinder plate, and upper edge of lock plate, as well as on the barrel and lock plate.” Conversions of the 2nd Model Colliers are also discussed in Ben Nicholson’s American Society of Arms Collectors article “The ‘Enigmas’ of Clay Bedford’s Collier Collection” and in his upcoming book “Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers of Artemas Wheeler and
Elisha Collier.”
The revolver’s octagonal Damascus barrel measures approximately 44 bore at the muzzle (around .47 caliber) and is smoothbore and has a solid, concave rib with a post front sight, “E.H. Collier 48 London” signed on top along with scroll and martial engraving, a notch rear sight on the top strap section of the rib at the breech, a groove cut into the bottom of the
top strap to allow the percussion nipples to rotate past, a lower rib under the barrel with a notch at the front and a single ferrule to secure the ramrod which has a worm on one end and a metal rammer on the other, and a
checkered section on the rear section of the lower rib. The frame is blued and has martial and scroll engraving. The casehardened back action lock is signed “E.H. Collier/48 PATENT” and has bordered, martial, and scroll
engraving. The percussion hammer has scroll engraving. The blued, squareback trigger guard has martial and border engraving. The five-shot cylinder has grooved borders and concave ribs. The mouth of each
chamber has the classic 2nd Model recess that allows the chamber to lock in place over the breech end of the barrel, and the cylinder is held forward under spring pressure. The grip has a silver eight pointed star inlay on the left with a floral bloom engraved at the center, a nicely checkered wrist,
and a flared pommel.
CONDITION: Fine. After being converted in the early 19th century, this revolver appears to have remained unused and clearly was well-cared for. It has crisp engraving and markings, light original Damascus twist patterns visible along the barrel along with gray and brown
patina and some minor oxidation/pitting at the breech, smooth gray patina on the cylinder, 60% original blue finish on the frame and trigger guard, and aged case colors on the lock.
The stock is also fine, retains much of the original finish, and has crisp checkering and some scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. This is a very attractive and desirable
example of an extremely rare firearm with historical significance, especially for collectors of revolving firearms. The Collier revolver was one of the first practical revolver, and this revolver was an original Collier flintlock converted to percussion making it among the first percussion revolvers and an particularly special piece of firearms history.
Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000
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