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LOT 3208
Outstanding Documented Cased Colt Model
1849 Pocket Percussion Revolver, Formerly of
the William M. Locke Collection - Serial no. 47077, 31 cal., 6 inch
octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. The
extraordinary Colt ‘49 Pocket revolver was manufactured in 1852, and
is offered out of the prominent George S. Lewis Jr. collection, with
provenance from the William M. Locke collection, as pictured in “The
William M. Locke Collection” book on page 75. Two collectors who
only owned the best, as evidenced by this pristine example offered. The
Model 1849 Pocket was the most popular of all of Colt’s percussion revolvers. They
would certainly have been more convenient for those needing some personal protection in the gold
fields and saloons of the West as well as the crowded and crime riddled streets of the large cities in
the East compared to the larger Colt Dragoon revolvers or mid-sized Model 1851 Navy and definitely
packed more firepower than many of the single and double shot pocket pistols of the day. During the
Civil War, many were carried as personal sidearms. The revolver has a six inch octagon barrel with brass
cone shaped front sight, loading lever and five-shot cylinder. The barrel and cylinder have a high polish
blue finish. The loading lever, frame and hammer are color casehardened and the brass trigger guard
and grip straps have a silver plated finish. The one piece grip is highly figured walnut with a high polish
varnish finish. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the stagecoach holdup scene. The barrel has the two-
line New York address. “COLTS/PATENT” is stamped on the left side of the frame. All matching full and
partial serial numbers visible on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, cylinder, loading lever, cylinder
pin and wedge. The accompanying partitioned red felt lined case contains a double sided “COLTS/
PATENT” eagle powder flask, “COLTS/PATENT” marked two-cavity .31 caliber brass bullet mold, Eley
Brothers cap tin with green label, two sealed boxes of .31 caliber combustible envelope
cartridges, a blued “L” shaped combination tool, lead rounds, and key.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, nearly as factory fresh. The barrel retains 97% plus original
blue finish. The cylinder has an absolutely sharp scene and retains 98% original blue finish,
with no firing evidence around the percussion nipples, all of the safety pins intact, and
minimal evidence of a drag line. 90% plus original captivating case colors remain on the
frame, hammer and loading lever, with some flaking visible along the bottom right edge of
the frame. 97% original silver plated finish remains on the trigger guard/grip straps, with an
untouched slightly tarnished appearance. The small parts retain most of their original niter
blue finish. Grip is also excellent with nearly all of the original glossy piano varnish finish,
some minor handling and storage marks, and crisp edges. Mechanically excellent. Case is
very fine with a minor crack visible on top of the lid and some minor age related wear on the
interior. This outstanding example of a cased Colt Model 1849 Pocket revolver would be a
strong addition to any antique arms or fine Colt collection!
Provenance: The William M. Locke Collection; The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN
THE BOOK THE WILLIAM M. LOCKE
COLLECTION BY SELLERS
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