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LOT 3216
Exceptional Double Cased Set of Colt Model 1849
Pocket Revolvers -A) Colt Model 1849 Pocket Percussion
Revolver - Serial no. 92616, 31 percussion cal., 6 inch octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, varnished walnut grips. These
Colt factory double-cased Model 1849 Pocket revolvers were
manufactured in 1854. The revolvers have six-inch barrels with
brass cone front sights and five-shot cylinders. The hammer
spurs have border-less, hand-cut knurling. The cylinders are
roll-engraved with the Stagecoach Holdup scene and “COLT’S PATENT”. The top barrel
flats are roll-stamped with the second style legend: “{ADDRESS SAML COLT/NEW YORK City}”. “COLTS/PATENT” is
stamped in two lines on the left side of each frame. Both revolvers have a blue finish on the barrel and cylinder,
color casehardened loading lever, frame and hammer and silver-plated brass trigger guard and back strap. The one-piece
walnut grip on both revolvers have a high polish piano finish. Revolver “A” has the full serial number, “92616”, stamped on
the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, back strap
and cylinder. The loading lever is stamped with the partial serial
number “2616”. Revolver “B” has the full serial number, “93485”,
stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard,
back strap and cylinder. The loading lever is stamped with the
partial serial number “3485”. All of the visible serial numbers
on both revolvers match. The revolver case is mahogany with
a brass, shield-shaped, lock escutcheon. The case is lined
with dark green velvet and has seven compartments. The case contains: (1) two
unmarked, lacquered percussion cap tins, (2) two, L-shaped, combination screw-driver/nipple
wrenches, (3) transitional, iron, bright finished, straight leg, double cavity bullet mold without sprue cutter
marked “COLTS/PATENT” across the top of the blocks. (4) fixed charger, pocket pistol powder flask embossed with “COLTS/PATENT” in
two lines above stars, an Eagle and Shield motif, crossed revolvers and “E. PLURIBUS. UNUM” on one side of the flask, (5) sealed packet of Hazard’s
cartridges for the Colt Revolving Pocket Pistol, (6) key and (7) assorted .31 caliber round balls and conical bullets.
CONDITION: Excellent. The revolver has 95% plus of the blue finish present on the barrel and cylinder with minimal handling wear. The cylinder
has all of the deeply cut scene. All of the cylinder safety pins remain intact and the percussion nipples show no flash pitting. The loading lever,
frame and hammer retains 90% of the muted, dove-gray case colors. The silver plated finish on the trigger guard and back strap is tarnished
some edge wear and scattered flaking. The grip is excellent and retains 95% of the piano finish. The barrel and frame markings and serial
numbers are crisp. The action is tight and functions well. The case exterior is in fine overall condition. The lid has two hairline cracks and several
minor dents and scratches, and there is one crack in the case bottom. The case interior is in good overall condition. The velvet lining is bright.
Wear is limited to compression marks from the revolver butts and cylinders. Two bass-wood reinforcements have been added near the muzzle
end of each revolver compartment. The cap tins are in fair-good
condition with most of the lacquer finish. The powder flask is in very
fine overall condition. The flask body retains 90% of the brown lacquer
finish, and the embossing is crisp. There are four dents in the back of
the flask body and top. The dents are not noticeable when the flask is
in the case. Traces of blue finish remain on the flask spring. None of the
gold plated finish remains on the top, handle and charger. The bright
finished bullet mold remains in excellent condition with clear markings
and minimal handling wear. The two L-shaped screw-drivers remain in
very good condition. The cartridge packet is sealed and
is in fine condition.
B) Colt Model 1849 Pocket Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 93485,
31 percussion cal., 6 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
varnished walnut grips. As described in “A”.
CONDITION: Very fine. The revolver has nearly 80% of the original finish.
The blue finish on the barrel and cylinder has edge wear, a few minor
scratches and some age spotting. The cylinder scene is crisp and nearly
all intact. The cylinder safety pins are battered and there is light flash
pitting on the percussion nipples. The loading lever, hammer and frame
have 70% of the case colors present. There is some silvering on the
loading lever and recoil shields. The sides of the hammer have some
light flash pitting. Nearly all of the silver-plated finish is present on the
trigger guard. The back strap shows light handling wear and retains
85% of the silver plating. The grip is very good with close to 90% of the
piano finish and a few scattered handling marks. The barrel legend and
frame patent marks and serial numbers are crisp. The action functions
well. This is an excellent example of a rare original Colt factory double-
cased set of Model 1849 Pocket revolvers.
Provenance: Jim Eplen, Norm Vegely, Private Collection.
Estimate: 25,000 - 37,500