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LOT 1165
Very Scarce Engraved E.H. Collier Percussion Revolving
Shotgun - Serial no. 156, 28 gauge, 27 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., brown/
blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Elisha Haydon Collier (1788-1856) of Boston,
Massachusetts, is a pivotal figure in the development of revolving firearms. He patented
an improvement of Captain Artemus Wheeler’s American patented design in England in
1818, and Collier received UK patent no. 4315. The Collier revolver is the first commercially
produced revolving firearm design and helped pave the way for Samuel Colt’s famous percussion revolvers patented in the UK in 1835.
This incredibly rare Third Model Collier patent revolving shotgun, of which only five are known, is very similar to No. 197 featured in Clay P. Bedford’s American Society
of Arms Collectors article “Collier and His Revolvers.” Similar examples are also seen in Ben Nicholson’s ASAC article “The Enigma of Clay Bedford’s Collier Firearm
Collection” and his new book “Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers of Artemas Wheeler & Elisha Collier.” The silver hunter’s star inlay on the left stock flat is also found
on all flintlock Second Model Colliers. The smoothbore barrel has a post front sight on the concave rib and on the left are London proofs with the number “28” between.
The cylinder arbor is marked “156” on the right, and the five-shot cylinder, with a unique stepped necking profile, pulls rearward for manual rotation. It has “156”, “0” and
London proof marks marked on the rear face. The lock is marked “E.H. COLLIER/156 PATENT” in script. There is coordinating scroll and border engraving with bird and
basilisk accents throughout. The stock is figured walnut and has a checkered wrist and a 14 1/2 inch length of pull. The ramrod is a later replacement, and a piece of wood
is in place of the extension in the toe.
CONDITION: Very good with gray and brown patina, mild pitting, distinct markings and engraving, and general mild overall wear. The stock is also good and has some
attractive figure, distinct checkering, and moderate scratches and dings, and the silver wrist escutcheon is missing. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
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