Page 167 - 4093-BOOK2

LOT 1175
Excellent, Historic, and Well Documented Factory Engraved
Colt Model 1855 “Root” Sidehammer Percussion Pocket
Revolver with Presentation Case Inscribed to Augustus
Putnam from the Hartford Evening Post owned by
Congressman Joseph R. Hawley - Serial no. 11278, 31 cal., 4
1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered antique ivory grips.
This stunning “Model 7A” variation of the Model 1855 was
manufactured in 1867 and represents the best of the best of this
last variation of “Root” revolver which features the distinctive long
two-stage barrel and a screw in the cylinder. This revolver remains
in extraordinarily high condition and displays the classic late
percussion vine scroll engraving composed of flowing scrollwork
with plain backgrounds, and it is also mounted with a rare
checkered grip. The barrel has a post front sight and “ADDRESS
COL. COLT/NEW-YORK USA” on top and “11278” on the bottom
at the breech. The cylinder features the classic stagecoach hold-
up scene along with “COLTS PATENT/No 11278”, and the butt
has “11278IE” in an engraved banner among the scrollwork. The
factory “IE” marking confirms the factory engraving and grip.
The mahogany case has a nickel-silver oval lid plaque inscribed
“Augustus Putnam/from/Hartford Evening Post” in attractive
period script, rose colored velvet lined interior, Eley cap tin, key,
two L-shaped combination tools, “31 PKT” and “COLTS/PATENT”
marked blued ball/bullet mold, pocket flask with the eagle and
shield motif on one side, and four Colts Cartridge Works cartridge
packs marked “EXPRESSLY FOR/COL. COLT’S PATENT/NEW MODEL/
REVOLVING POCKET PISTOL”. The revolver is feature on page 149
of R.L. Wilson’s “Colt Engraving Book Volume 1” and again in “The
Colt Heritage” on page 82. It is shown with a different case and
accessories in the latter. AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK
THE COLT HERITAGE BY WILSON 165