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LOT 3243
Cased Factory Engraved
Colt Model 1849 Pocket
Percussion Revolver -
Serial no. 115195, 31 cal.,
6 inch octagon bbl., blue/
casehardened/silver finish,
varnished highly figured walnut grips. This revolver was manufactured in 1856 while
Gustave Young was the primary engraving contractor and features beautiful factory
entwining scroll engraving with foliate accents and beaded backgrounds. The barrel
has the presentation style “Saml Colt” inscription rather than the roll-marked address,
and the frame has “COLTS/PATENT” inscribed rather than stamped on the left side among the scrollwork. The factory dot marking for special engraving/finishing is
marked on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and butt, and matching serial numbers are noted on the cylinder, wedge, arbor pin, loading lever, barrel, frame, trigger
guard, and backstrap. The revolver has a deluxe varnished walnut grip. It comes in a fitted case with an early brass “COLTS/PATENT” ball/bullet mold without a sprue
cutter, eagle pattern pocket flask, key, L-shaped combination tool, cap tin, cartridge pack, and bullets.
CONDITION: Very good with crisp engraving, mostly distinct cylinder scene, 75% plus original silver plating remaining on the grip straps and displaying dark aged
patina, gray and brown patina on the iron, patches of oxidation/pitting, replaced wedge screw, drag lines on the cylinder, and generally minor age and storage
related wear. The hammer is professionally recut and restored overall. The grip is fine and has attractive figure, small dings and scratches, and minor handling
wear. Mechanically fine. Aside from a crack in the case lid, the case and accessories are very good and have age and storage related wear. Overall, a very attractive
antebellum era Colt Model 1849 Pocket displaying high quality factory engraving.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3242
Very Fine Colt Model 1851 Navy
Revolver Powder Flask with
Colts Patent Marking -
Offered here is a second type
powder flask for the iconic Colt
Model 1851 percussion revolver.
The double sided flask features
crossed rifles and crossed pistols
over “COLTS/PATENT” above
a stand of flags, a cannon,
and other arms. The pattern
is rounded at the bottom.
Noted Colt accoutrement
expert Robin Rapley noted,
“This is the only Navy
flask manufactured with
the pattern on both
sides. The die work is
extremely fine and
detailed, of the best
workmanship, and
in the finest English
tradition” (see page “Colt
Percussion Accoutrements,
1834-1873,” page 153). The
flask has a deep dark lacquer
on the body, gilded top, and nitre blue
spring. The slant charger is tapered and has a stepped base.
CONDITION: Very fine, with the body retaining 75% original
lacquer, 70% original gilt, and 80% original nitre blue. A great
accessory for your Colt Model 1851 percussion revolver.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3241
Presentation Cased Colt London Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver -
Serial no. 21205, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
grips. Manufactured at Colt’s London factory in 1855. Demand for Colt’s Model
1851 Navy revolver was high with English officers following the Great Exhibition
in London in 1851 and continued into the Crimean War. Herbert Houze in “Samuel
Colt: Arms, Art and Invention” on page 9 notes that the British Board of Ordnance
contracted with Colt for 25,540 Model 1851 Navy revolvers mainly for the Royal
Navy, and Colt also sold an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 revolvers to officers. Despite
this initial demand, the Adams revolvers and others of English design would force
Colt to close his London factory, and the company instead shipped revolvers
from Hartford to a sales office in London. Features the large oval steel trigger
guard, steel back strap, wide cylinder nipple cut-outs, bordered knurling on the
hammer spur, and round head frame and trigger guard screws that are typical of
Colt London Navy revolvers. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped “-ADDRESS COL.
COLT. LONDON-” and London “Crown/GP” and “Crown/V” proof and inspection
marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel lug and alternating between
each nipple on the cylinder. Full and partial matching visible serial numbers
marked on the loading lever, barrel, wedge, cylinder pin, cylinder, frame, trigger
guard, butt, and correctly handwritten in black ink inside the back channel of
the grip. Includes a hardwood case with a red felt lined fitted interior and a silver
inlaid escutcheon on the lid period inscribed with monogram initials that appear
to read “GKM” likely belonging to an English officer, containing a key, a blued ball/
bullet mold marked “COLT’S/PATENT” on the sprue cutter, two blued L-shaped
combination tools, W. & C. Eley cap tin, G. & J.W. Hawksley oiler, cleaning rod, vent pick, extra hammer spring, and a bag shaped James Dixon & Sons Sheffield powder flask.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% plus bright original high polish blue finish concentrated on the barrel and cylinder with 40% of the faded original blue finish on the trigger guard/grip straps, 75% plus original case colors
concentrated on the loading lever and frame with a bright appearance on the hammer, retaining all of the cylinder safety pins, with crisp cylinder scene, markings and edges in the metal overall. Grip is also very fine with nearly all
of the original glossy piano varnish finish, some scattered minor dents and scratches, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. Case is very good with scattered dents and scratches, a non-structural crack visible on the refinished
lid, and some mild age related wear on the interior.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
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