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LOT 123
Outstanding Factory Exhibition Engraved, Blue and Casehardened Colt New Line .41 Spur Trigger Revolver with Pearl Grips and Case - Serial no. 1306, 41 RF cal., 2 1/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, pearl grips. Manufactured in 1875, Colt’s “New Line” revolvers were introduced in 1873 alongside their legendary Single Action Army revolver. These smaller pocket revolvers were intended both as a companion piece or backup to the Single Action Army, but
also to appeal to a more urban oriented clientele that had little interest in carrying a full-size holstered revolver regularly. While the New Line of revolvers saw initial success, by the late 1870s production of most of the variations had ended, due in part to a plethora of very similar, often cheaper, pocket revolvers on the market. One of the most famous Colt advertisements of this range of revolvers was their “wheel display” at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, where they displayed a broad range of their offerings, particularly the New Line, most of which were highly embellished with deluxe finishes. Some of the guns from the display were sent to Henry Folsom & Co. after the exposition, and as such a partial list of revolvers in the display exists, documenting them by serial number. This example certainly shows the masterfully executed factory engraving and deluxe finishes that many of those “wheel” revolvers displayed, however, is not listed on the Folsom list. While it is difficult to document this revolver to the Centennial Exposition, or any other specific event, the exhibition grade engraving and finish of this revolver, as well as its manufactured date just a year before the Centennial Exposition, suggests that it was specifically made for advertising and display, likely at one or many of the large trade shows of the period. There are also examples from the period of Colt providing highly embellished arms to the high end retailers of the time to display in their stores as an eye-catching example of the high level of craftsmanship
the company was capable of, and regardless of where this specific revolver was displayed, it is certainly eye catching. The top of the barrel has the lightly struck, standard two-line address. 75% of the surfaces feature masterfully executed vine and scroll engraving on a punchdot background, much like the style featured on many of the “wheel display” revolvers. The matching serial number is on the bottom of the barrel, left of the grip frame along with “E” and “P”, on the rear face of the cylinder (“306”), and faintly on the inside of each grip panel. The revolver shows a blue and casehardened finish, which is rarely seen on highly embellished examples that were more often than not plated. It is fitted with a blade front sight, frame top groove rear sight, and a pair of smooth pearl grips. Includes a leatherette wrapped case with fitted velvet interior featuring a full cartridge block and a cleaning rod. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus of the high polish original blue finish, vibrant case colors, and bright nitre blue with some light edge wear and a few light handling marks including a faint cylinder drag line. The grips are excellent with only the slightest handling marks. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine with mild handling/storage wear and a few absent pieces of leather at the corners. Do not miss this opportunity to add an incredible, factory exhibition engraved Colt New Line .41 revolver to your collection!
Provenance: The Tom Lewis Collection; The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection.
Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000
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