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LOT 1211
Scarce Early Production, Serial
Number 408, Civil War Fluted Cylinder Colt
Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver Shipped
to Governor William Dennison of Ohio with Factory Letter - Serial no. 408, 44 cal., 8
inch round bbl., brown/silver finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1861, on the eve of the Civil
War during the tense presidential election year. The accompanying factory letter indicates that this revolver was
shipped to Governor William Dennison in Columbus, Ohio, on June 14, 1861, and confirms the current configuration. This was
a 200 gun shipment. William Dennison Jr. was the 24th Governor of Ohio from January 1860 to January 1862. As governor, he was famously
enthusiastic about the call to arms at the onset of the Civil War. He mobilized over 100,000 troops and used them to secure Ohio’s railroads
and telegraph lines and also sent troops under George McClellan into western Virginia without federal permission to protect the First Wheeling
Convention. The convention ultimately led to the formation of the new free state of West Virginia. Lincoln appointed
him Post Master General in 1864. He also served as the head of the Republican National Convention that year. Ohio was
a crucial state for the Union War effort thanks to its central location, large population, waterways, and railways. These
revolvers were very likely issued to the Ohio cavalry. Charles Pate in his book “The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver”
estimates that between 5,000 and 6,300 fluted cylinders were originally produced, and some of these cylinders were
changed by the factory to the standard non-fluted cylinders, which has limited the number surviving. Many of these early production revolvers
were also known to have been shipped south of the Mason-Dixon Line for use by the Confederacy, even after the bombardment of Fort Sumter.
It features the distinctive six-shot fluted cylinder, marked “PATENTED SEPT. 10th 1850” in one of flutes, with the early straight bored chambers.
Colt later introduced a taper to the chamber at the breech end after report of failures due to the thinness of the barrel wall at the cylinder stops
on these early revolvers. It has a German silver blade front sight, notch rear sight in the hammer, with “-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CT.-”
roll-stamped on top of the barrel, “COLTS/PATENT” on the left of the frame with projecting “fourth” screws, flush hammer screw head, shoulder
stock cuts on the recoil shield with a slot at the heel, and a capping groove on the right. Matching visible serial number “408” marked on the
barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, wedge, cylinder, and cylinder arbor pin.
CONDITION: Very good, with antiqued brown patina on the iron, and 50% plus original silver plated finish concentrated around the trigger guard and
on the back strap, with bright golden patina on the exposed brass. Grip is also very good, with tight fitment, some flaking of the outer varnish finish,
some filled in areas in the butts, scratches, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1210
Historic Colt First Model Dragoon Percussion
Revolver Inscribed “J.S. Stuart 1849” - Serial no. 1657,
44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips.
This First Model Dragoon was manufactured in 1848. Only approximately 7,000 First Model Dragoons were manufactured between 1848-1849, per page
85 of “The Book of Colt Firearms” by Sutherland and Wilson, and they are important pieces in Colt firearms history as one of the massive “holster pistols” made by Colt
following the famous Colt Walker revolvers of 1847. These revolvers were designed for mounted use by the U.S. Mounted Riflemen and 1st and 2nd U.S. Dragoons. The
First Model Dragoons were followed by 2,700 Second Model Dragoons and 10,500 Third Model Dragoons. All of the Dragoon models saw considerable use during both
the antebellum period and the Civil War, and were also popular out west due to their stopping power. This revolver is bearing a fancy period inscribed name and date “J.S.
Stuart 1849” on the back strap. The identity of this individual was unable to be confirmed, although a search of the Civil War database located a handful of individuals named
J.S. Stuart that were all part of different Confederate regiments. The barrel has a German silver blade front sight and “ADDRESS SAML. COLT NEW-YORK CITY” reading from the breech
towards the muzzle. The cylinder has the faintly visible Texas Ranger and Comanche Indian battle scene with “MODEL U.S.M.R.” and “COLT’S PATENT” markings surrounding the serial number, and the
correct oval stop slots of the First Model Dragoons. The frame has “COLT’S/PATENT/U.S.” stamped on the left. Silver plated brass grip straps with a squareback trigger guard. Matching visible serial numbers
on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, and cylinder, with a period replacement loading lever numbered “110”.
CONDITION: Very good, exhibiting an untouched mix of smooth gray and brown patina on the iron with a few small patches of light pitting, retains 30% original silver plated finish concentrated around
the trigger guard with bright golden patina on the exposed brass, period dings on the butt of the back strap, clearly legible cylinder scene, and a crisp inscription. Grip is also good as refinished, slightly
undersized, with some light handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
LOT 1212
Very Scarce Colt’s Cartridge Works Twelve Pack of Combustible Cartridges for the Stocked Colt Dragoon Revolver - Constructed from
tan paper with black print, marked “12 Combustible Envelope/CARTRIDGES,/MADE OF HAZARD’S POWDER/EXPRESSLY FOR/COL. COLT’S PATENT/
REVOLVING HOLSTER PISTOL CARBINE/ADDRESS/COLT’S CARTRIDGE WORKS./HARTFORD, CONN./U.S. AMERICA.” on the face. Rarely seen, this sort
of cartridge pack would be appropriate for a paired set of Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolvers with a shoulder stock, and are rarely found today.
Consignor statements attribute the pack to the collection of Al Kelley.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall, with strong detail in the markings.
Provenance: The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
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