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LOT 3227
Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy
Cartridge Conversion Revolver -
Serial no. 33398, 38 Short CF cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened/silver finish, antique ivory grips. This revolver’s serial number dates to 1853 and it was subsequently converted for centerfire ammunition in the mid-1870s. It features elaborate feathered scroll engraving with punch-dot backgrounds, an eagle mask by the wedge on the left, another mask motif on the hammer, floral accents, and a variety of border patterns. The ejector housing and cylinder display a slightly different style of factory engraving. The barrel has a brass cone front sight and the one-line New York City barrel address. The left side of the frame has the small “COLTS/ PATENT” marking, and the loading gate is numbered “398.” The ejector rod button is installed backwards, and some of the chambers are wider at the outer wall. The revolver is fitted with a smooth grip. CONDITION: Fine with 80% plus period refurbished case colors and silver plating remaining, 40% factory blue finish, distinct engraving, mostly distinct markings, and generally mild overall wear including some minor oxidation and pitting. The grip is also very fine and has attractive natural aged tones and grain, minor marks, and light edge wear. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
marked on the barrel and triggerguard, and “48757” on the backstrap. Boxed script
inspection cartouches stamped on both sides of the grip. Two other examples with this same type of unknown experimental rimfire conversion cylinder are photographed and described on pages 210 and 212 of “The Book of Colt Firearms” by Sutherland and Wilson. The gun photographed on page 212 has backstrap numbered “142970” and “48757” on the barrel and triggerguard, which matches some of the numbers on different components of this example as well as the gun photographed on page 210, indicating these three guns were all converted and assembled using each others parts. The book indicates these rare unknown factory experimental conversions were done c. 1868-1869. This revolver is photographed and described on pages 409 and 410 of “A Study of Colt Conversions and Other Percussion Revolvers” by R. Bruce McDowell. CONDITION: Very good as assembled and converted for cartridge. The grip is also very good. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Phillip Otto Clark Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3229
LOT 3228
Documented Colt Model 1860 Army Rimfire Conversion Revolver Photographed in McDowell’s A Study of Colt Conversions - Serial no. 118000, 44 RF cal., 8 inch round bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, walnut grips. Frame manufactured in 1862. Mixed numbers including serial number “118000” marked on the frame, “142970”
LOT 3230
California Pattern Colt Model 1851 Navy Conversion Holster with Cartridge Belt - Manufactured in the mid to late 19th century, possibly as early as the California Gold Rush,
this California pattern holster was intended for a Colt Model 1851 Navy or a cartridge conversion variant of it. The popularity of this type of holster began in the late 1840s during the percussion era of Colt revolvers and carried over into the era of cartridge conversions. The holster itself has deeply carved floral designs and a separate belt loop riveted onto the back of the body. A similar holster to this one is pictured on p. 80 of “Packing Iron: Gunleather of the Frontier West” by Rattenbury. Paired with the holster is a scarce, early, thin cartridge belt with one row of cartridge loops,
148
Colt Model 1861 Navy Cartridge Conversion Revolver - Serial no. 21393, 38 CF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. This is an example of a factory conversion of a Model 1861 Navy percussion revolver. The conversion is the same as the Richards-Mason conversion done on the Model 1860 Army revolvers. It consists of plugging the loading lever hole and attaching of an ejector housing by a screw running through the left side of the barrel lug, modification of the cylinder, identical to the 1851 Navy, a center fire firing pin is attached through a center slot on the face of the hammer, installation of a breech plate, (so called Third Model), without integral rear sight and a loading gate attached by a screw through a hole in the base of the gate; the gate is held open or shut by a flat spring screwed to the frame. The top of the barrel is marked “--ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S.AMERICA--”, the left side of the frame is marked with the two line, two July patent dates and the cylinder is roll engraved with the naval engagement scene and marked “COLTS PATENT NO 486” with factory stamped “393” below the 486. The complete matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap, and the loading gate is numbered “1393. Writer was unable to remove the wedge to check the numbers on the wedge and cylinder pin. Blade front and hammer notch rear sights, nickel finish with silver plated brass trigger guard and back strap and fitted with a smooth varnished one-piece walnut grip. CONDITION: Fine. The revolver retains 70% original nickel finish with some high edge wear, and some minor flaking and pitting on the barrel, cylinder and breech plate. The trigger guard and back strap retain 30% original silver plating in protected of the butt areas and a pleasant aged patina on the exposed brass. The cylinder scene is mostly visible and the markings are clear. The grip is also fine with patches of the original varnish remaining, and showing wear on the lower edges, a tiny chip on each toe and a few minor handling marks. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Phillip Otto Clark Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
likely intended for the early .38 RF or CF cartridges, and a German silver buckle. Neither item has a maker’s mark. CONDITION: Very good, the holster showing mostly mild wear, crisp carving, and most of the stitching remaining tight. There is a repair mark at the muzzle end. The belt shows moderate wear and extensive age related cracking, with the cartridge loop stitching remaining tight. This is a rare opportunity to add an early frontier holster rig for a Colt cartridge conversion revolver to your collection!
Estimate: 1,200 - 1,800
AS PICTURED AND
DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK A STUDY OF COLT CONVERSIONS AND OTHER PERCUSSION REVOLVERS BY MCDOWELL