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LOT 3212
Outstanding “Albert Foster Model” Colt Paterson Model 1839 Percussion
Revolving Carbine - Serial no. 517, 525 gauge, 24 1/4 inch part round bbl., brown/blue/
casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is an absolutely gorgeous example of a desirable
Colt Model 1839 Paterson carbine, as made at the Colt factory from leftover parts c.
1910. According to page 49 of “The Book of Colt Firearms” by R.L. Wilson, “Approximately
twelve carbines were plain, without roll engraved scenes or concentric circles. These
specimens were made from parts discovered in the Colt factory by Albert Foster Jr., in
about 1910. Foster, a Colt employee and for many years manager of the New York office,
had the cylinders made and fitted; the ratchet teeth on these cylinders were integral, the
barrels were browned and included a clearance cut at the back (thus the serial numbers
there were removed). Known specimens of these Albert Foster Model carbines are Serial
#662, #690, and #836. The dozen carbines are considered to have been returned to the
Patent Arms company or to the Colt Hartford factory for replacement of the original
burst cylinders. Foster retailed his restored guns to collectors for a maximum price of
$75.” Reportedly, only 950 of the original Colt Paterson Model 1839s are estimated to
have been manufactured c. 1838-1841 by Samuel Colt’s Paterson, New Jersey factory,
the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company. The navy and army of the Republic of Texas
purchased and utilized Colt’s advanced carbine, and these purchases led to Colt’s use
of the Naval Battle of Campeche as the scene on the Model 1851 Navy and subsequent
models. The U.S. Navy also purchased 360, and they are known to have been used during
the Mexican-American War. R.L. Wilson wrote this model was “The most practical and
popular of all Colts longarms from the Paterson period,” and also indicated that Samuel
Colt continued to sell and display this model into the 1850s. The Model 1839 is featured
in multiple paintings by famous frontier artist George Catlin that were used to promote
Colt’s early firearms. On top of being the best of the Paterson long guns, this model is
also significant as one of the first practical repeating long gun designs. There had been
other repeating firearms in the past, but none of these were remotely as useful and many
were unsuited to production on a large scale. Important period oval bordered cartouche
stamps containing the initials “J.R. H. Jr.” are located on the left and on the bottom of
the stock; the legendary collection stamp of John Rogers Hegeman, Jr. (August 10th,
1872-October 25th, 1923), vice president of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company,
of New York, son of John Rogers Hegeman, Sr., president of Metropolitan Life, who was
truly a pioneer as one of the earliest serious collectors of Colt firearms and had very
strong connections with the Colt factory. His initials are found on many rare and exotic
Colts, including various serial number 1 production guns. The .525 caliber (approximately
32 bore) smoothbore barrel has a post front sight and dovetail mounted “V” notch rear
sight. The matching serial number “517” is marked on the wedge, interior of the barrel
lug slot, rear of the cylinder, and toe of the buttplate. Brown finished barrel, blue finished
cylinder, recoil shields, upper tang, trigger guard, wedge and trigger, with casehardened
lower frame tang and buttplate. The carbine is mounted with a smooth stock and has a
scrolling iron trigger guard and iron buttplate.