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LOT 268
Scarce Ehlers Improved Colt “Baby Paterson” No. 1
Pocket Model Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 310, 28
cal., 3 1/8 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, ebony grips. Per R. L. Wilson in
“The Paterson Colt Book,” approximately 500 of the No. 1 Pocket or “Baby
Paterson” revolvers were manufactured in 1837 and 1838, and some cylinders
were later rounded. This revolver is one of the examples later “improved” by John Ehlers
c. 1840-1843 following the bankruptcy of Samuel Colt’s Patent Arms Manufacturing Company.
The diminutive “Baby Paterson” and Fourth Model Ehlers revolver are the smallest Colt percussion
revolvers and almost appear to be scaled miniatures of the “Texas Paterson” revolvers used by the Texas
Rangers. The Ehlers Model Paterson revolver is a rare variation of the rare and very desirable Colt Baby
Paterson revolver. John Ehlers is believed to have manufactured and assembled approximately 500 Fourth
and Fifth Model Ehlers revolvers utilizing components of the Colt Paterson acquired after the bankruptcy
of the Colt Patent Arms Manufacturing Company. The Ehlers Model Paterson revolvers are key pieces in
the development of the Colt percussion revolver. Many of the improvements seen on this variation were
adopted for Colt’s later percussion revolvers.