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LOT 1183
Well-Documented Cased Factory Engraved
Colt Model 1849 Pocket Percussion
Revolver with Extraordinary Relief Carved
Dragoon Portrait Grip - Serial no. 103954, 31
cal., 5 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/
silver finish, antique ivory grips. This revolver
was manufactured in 1855 when Master
Engraver Gustave Young was Colt’s primary
engraving contractor, and the engraving is
typical of the revolvers attributed to Young
himself. The masterfully cut scrollwork features
interlacing tendrils, beaded backgrounds,
some crosshatched panels, a small animal
head inhabiting the scrollwork above the
loading lever screw on the left, floral accents,
and the rayed elements on the barrel lug and
sides of the back strap. The barrel has a brass
cone front sight and the hand cut “Saml Colt”
marking rather than the usual address, and the
frame has “COLTS/PATENT” engraved in a panel
rather than the standard stamped marking.
The hammer has the classic wolf’s head motif.
The factory dot marking used to designate
revolvers for special finishing is marked by the
main serial numbers on the bottom, and all of
the serial numbers match. The barrel lug has a
“2” on the left, and a “5” is also marked on the
frame ahead of trigger guard and on the guard
between the serial number and bow. The left
side of the trigger guard also has an “S”. The
grip has a detailed raised relief bust portrait
of a dragoon on the left side. While there are
other similar grips known on other engraved
Colts from the 1850s, they tend to each be
fairly unique, and all are rare. For a comparison,
see ‘49 Pocket sn. 107794 from Lot 3210 in our
December 2022 auction. It featured a similar
motif that under inspection shows notable
variations. The revolver is also featured in the
Texas Gun Collector Association magazine’s
July 1969 issue on p. 69. It comes in a very nice
rosewood case with brass corner protectors
and escutcheons, hunter green lining, balls
and bullets, a key, spare small parts, brass ball/
bullet mold, pocket powder flask, Eley Bros. cap
tin, and two cartridge packs. This incredible
revolver is featured on page in the “Antique
Arms Annual” from 1971 on page 17 as part of
S.P. Stevens’s collection of engraved Colt’s with
carved grips. There the carving is attributed as
“the rare God of War motif.” Dragoon helmets
drew inspiration from ancient Greco-Roman
designs, including the use of a prominent crest
which was also a feature on the helmets Greek
god of war Ares is often depicted with.
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