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LOT 1182
Rare Colt Model 1860 Fluted Cylinder Army Percussion Revolver with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 1492, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This
revolver was manufactured in 1860, the first year of production, and is one of about 4,000 Colt Model 1860 Army Revolvers manufactured with the full fluted cylinder and the “-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CT.-” barrel marking. The included factory
letter indicates this revolver was part of a shipment of 50 guns of this type sent to Colt’s New York office at 240 Broadway on April 1, 1861, and confirms the configuration. On April 1, 1861, President Lincoln was engaged in making decisions about how to hold onto federal forts and properties, including Fort Sumter, and the war began when South Carolina forces under Brig. Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard began shelling the fort in
the pre-dawn hours of April 12, 1861, an act the Confederate President Jefferson Davis had been warned would bring ruin to the Confederacy. Where this revolver went from Colt’s New York office is not clear. It may have been one of the last shipments forwarded by Colt to southern dealers before the outbreak of the war. Samuel Colt was criticized for selling arms to the southern states as war loomed on the horizon and called a traitor in the press due to these sales along with his pro-slavery and anti- Republican stances, but his reputation was secured since the Model 1860 Army was the main service revolver in the Union during the war. Matching partial or full serial numbers are found on the wedge, arbor pin, cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, back strap, and rear mortise of the grip.
CONDITION: Fine with 75% original silver plating on the grip straps with casual flaking, 30% original case colors on the frame, 40% original blue finish, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, sharp markings, and mild overall wear. The safety pins remain solid. The grip is very fine and has most of the original high polish “piano” varnish remaining, minor edge wear, and some slight handling marks. Mechanically excellent. This is both a fine and rare example of a fluted cylinder Colt Model 1860 Army. This revolver both has some “been there” look and a considerable amount of original finish. A tough balance to strike.
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
178
LOT 1183
Scarce Colt First Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 3003, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened/
bright finish, walnut grips. This revolver was manufactured in 1848, the first year of production, and has a German silver blade front sight,
“ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY” reading from the breech towards the muzzle, “COLT’S/PATENT/U.S.” on the left side of the frame, hammer
notch rear sight, “900” on the replaced wedge, and matching partial or full serial numbers on the loading lever, cylinder pin (remarked), barrel,
frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The markings on the cylinder are not visible. The First Model Dragoon is an important descendant of the
famous Colt Walker revolver which debuted just one year earlier and was meant for use by the U.S. Mounted Rifles and U.S. Dragoons. They were
also purchased by civilians, including some that headed to the newly discovered gold fields of California and were reportedly sold for $400 in gold or more. CONDITION: Fair with mottled gray patina and mild pitting throughout, aged patina on the brass trigger guard, and moderate overall wear. The period replacement grip is good and has small chips at the edges, light scrapes and dings, and smooth oiled finish. The cylinder has some play and gets out of time; otherwise mechanically functions fine.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500