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LOT 1088
Spectacular and Virtually Mint
Presentation Cased Exhibition
Quality, Deluxe Factory
Engraved Colt New Line .32
Spur Trigger Revolver with Ivory
Grips, Inscribed to Andrew E.
Elmore, Early Wisconsin Settler,
Postmaster, and Politician - Serial
no. 4926, 32 RF cal., 2 1/4 inch round
bbl., gold/nickel finish, antique
ivory grips. Manufactured in 1874,
the second year of production,
Colt’s “New Line” revolvers were
introduced alongside the legendary
Colt Single Action Army revolver.
These smaller pocket revolvers
were intended both as a
companion piece or backup
to the Single Action Army,
but also to appeal to a more
urban oriented clientele that
had little interest in carrying
a full-size holstered revolver
regularly. While the New Line
of revolvers saw initial success,
by the late 1870s production
of most of the variations
had ended, due in part to a
plethora of very similar, often
cheaper, pocket revolvers on
the market. One of the most
famous Colt advertisements
of this range of revolvers was
their “wheel display” at the
1876 Centennial Exposition in
Philadelphia, where they displayed
a broad range of their offerings,
particularly the New Line, most of
which were highly embellished
with deluxe finishes. Manufactured
two years before the exposition, this
revolver likely wasn’t featured on the
famous Colt wheel, however it displays
very similar embellishment as many
that were included. The back strap on
this example is inscribed “Andrew E.
Elmore/FORT HOWARD WISCONSIN”.
Andrew E. Elmore was born and
raised in New York before moving
to Wisconsin in the 1830s and then
settling in Mukwonago in 1839.
In 1840, Elmore was appointed
postmaster and held that office
until 1849. During that period he
was involved in the politics of the
county and also married in 1841. In 1842-
1843, he was elected as a member of the
Territorial House of Representatives and
in 1860 was elected to the state assembly.
For a total of 12 years, he was chairman
of the board of supervisors of Waukesha
County. He is noted as having possessed
a “remarkable degree of a keen sense of
wit and humor”, early on being called
the “Sage of Mukwonago”, and as being
genial, cordial, and companionable.
The revolver itself has the standard
two-line address on top of the barrel
and the serial number on the bottom.
The revolver shows nearly full coverage,
exhibition quality, factory floral scroll
engraving. The full serial number
is also marked on the left of the
grip frame, along with “E”, and is
repeated inside both grip panels
in ink. The cylinder and trigger are
gold plated, small parts are niter
blued, and the remainder of the
revolver is nickel plated. It is fitted
with a blade front sight, frame top
groove rear sight, and a pair of
smooth pearl grips. Included with
the revolver is a very attractive
hardwood presentation case with
a brass plaque on the lid inscribed
“Andrew E. Elmore/Wisconsin”
that is lined with purple velvet
containing a cleaning rod/
screwdriver and a nearly full cartridge
block of .32 RF cartridges. Also includes
some printed documentation regarding
Elmore and the areas that he lived.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus
of both the gold and nickel finishes with
some very light wear on the trigger,
some scattered speckled flaking in the
cylinder flutes, and crisp engraving and
inscription. The grips are also excellent
with a few light handling marks and
attractively aged tone. Mechanically
needs work as the hammer doesn’t
cock/cylinder doesn’t rotate.
The case is very fine with some
light handling/storage wear. A
spectacular exhibition quality,
factory presentation engraved
and inscribed Colt New Line
revolver!
Estimate: 35,000 - 55,000
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