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LOT 1209
Excellent Cased Colt Model 1849 Pocket Percussion Revolver
with Scarce Five Inch Barrel - Serial
no. 45475, 31 cal., 5 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. The
Colt Model 1849 Pocket was the most popular Colt revolver of the 19th century but remains hard to acquire in very high condition given most examples
appear to have actually been carried. This is especially the case for
the earlier ‘49 Pockets which were popular in the antebellum West,
including in the gold fields. However, this revolver manufactured in
1852 remains in exceptional condition. It has a cone front sight and
the two-line “{ADDRESS SAML COLT/NEW-YORK CITY}” address on the
barrel. The left side of the frame has the small “COLTS/PATENT” marking.
The trigger guard has a “V” on the left and a “P” on the right. The five-
shot cylinder has the classic stagecoach scene. The wedge is numbered
“231” while the arbor is numbered “475”, the loading lever is numbered “5475”, and the full serial number “45475” is marked on the cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The grip was not dismounted for inspection in respect of the revolver’s extraordinary condition, but almost certainly has the matching serial number hand written in ink. The revolver comes in a fitted case with dark green lining, some balls and bullets, a “COLTS/PATENT” brass ball/bullet mold without sprue cutter, eagle pattern pocket flask, spare mainspring, L-shaped combination tool, cap tin, and cartridge pack. The case would fit a six inch barrel, but the contact wear shows its long held this revolver’s 5 inch barrel. An included December 2, 1967, letter from Charles W. Moore indicates he had recently bought the cased set and was offering it for sale and noting the exceptional condition overall, including stating: “The case is one of the finest I’ve ever seen, brown mahogany, lined in green velvet.”
CONDITION: Excellent with 97% original blue finish, 95% plus fiery case colors, and 98% original silver plating on the grip frame which displays attractively aged patina. There are some scratches by the wedge and drag lines on the cylinder, but it otherwise only has minor handling and storage type marks. The markings are nice and crisp, as is the cylinder scene. The grip is also excellent and retains nearly all of the original varnish and has only some minor marks and scratches. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are very fine with very minor storage wear. This is a truly exceptional cased set!
Provenance: Charles W. Moore Antique Firearms; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 8,500 - 11,000
LOT 1210
Very Fine Colt London Model 1851
Navy Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 36184, 36 cal., 7
1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. This classic
Colt Model 1851 Navy was manufactured at Colt’s London factory in 1855 and features the distinctive London barrel address, rounded screw heads, and blued iron grip frame. Samuel Colt courted various European powers
looking to expand his business in Europe. The Crimean War in 1853-1856 represented an excellent opportunity for
Colt to sell large quantities of revolvers, especially his popular Model 1851 Navy revolvers. 5,000 of these Colt London
manufactured Navy revolvers were purchased for use by the Royal Army during the war, and many others were privately purchased by British
officers. However, increased competition from British designs like the double action Beaumont-Adams revolvers ultimately forced the closure of his factory in London after it had manufactured around 42,000 of these London Model 1851 Navy revolvers, and Colt instead shifted to sending revolvers made in Hartford to his sales
office in London. The barrel is marked “-ADDRESS. COL: COLT. LONDON-” on top. The frame is marked “COLT S/PATENT” on the left side. London proofs are stamped on the left side of the barrel just in front of the wedge and on the cylinder shoulders. The barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap are blued; the frame, hammer, and loading lever are casehardened, and the grip is varnished walnut. The serial number is stamped in small numerals on the loading lever, barrel, wedge, frame,
trigger guard, cylinder, and back strap.
CONDITION: Very fine overall. The barrel retains 85% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish. The cylinder and trigger guard retain traces of original blue, and the back strap retains 60% original blue. 30% of the fading original case colors remain on the loading lever, frame, and hammer. There are patches of mild pitting mainly on the cylinder and trigger guard. The cylinder has most of the roll-scene remaining and solid safety pins. The other markings are crisp. The grip is also very fine and has most of the original varnish remaining, some light dings and scratches, and minor edge wear. Mechanically excellent. This is certainly a very solid example of the desirable Colt London Model 1851 Navy revolver.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1211
Outstanding
James Dixon &
Sons Flask Marked
“Colt Navy Flask” - This
flask essentially looks as it would have when it was sold along with a London Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver back in the mid-1850s. The spout is adjustable and has positions for 4/8ths, 5/8ths, and 6/8ths of a dram of powder. The top is marked “COLT’S NAVY FLASK” and “JAMES DIXON/& SONS/SHEFFIELD” and has a nitre blue spring, and knurled edge, and it will screw off by hand allowing easy filling of the flask. The inside is marked “E” near the hole. The brass collar is secured by three small iron screws. The body has a red finish and a lanyard ring. CONDITION: Excellent overall with
only minor handling and storage wear including a couple of small
dings in the body.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
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