Page 222 - 4095-BOOK3

LOT 3260
Highly Desirable Colt Paterson No. 2 Belt Model Percussion Revolver - Serial no.
716, 34 cal., 5 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Colt received his first
patent for revolvers in 1835 in England and then the U.S. in 1836 and formed the Patent
Arms Manufacturing Company in Paterson, New Jersey, later the same year. Less than
3,000 of his rather expensive Paterson revolvers were manufactured. These were split
across several models and variations. This revolver is a highly sought after example of a
Colt No. 2 Belt Model Paterson Revolver. Per R. L. Wilson in “The Paterson Colt Book,” the
No. 2 Belt Model was manufactured from 1837 to 1840 within the same serial number
sequence as the No. 3 Belt Model, and he estimated that 400 of this model were
manufactured. Some examples had the back of the cylinders rounded later as seen
on this example. The revolver has a high polish blue finish on the barrel and cylinder
and the casehardened finish seen on some of the later revolvers on the frame and
hammer. The grip is walnut and has a high polish piano finish. The five-shot cylinder is
roll engraved with a centaur hunting scene and the “COLT” four horse head emblem.
The top of the barrel is roll-stamped “-Patent Arms M’g Co Paterson N.J. Colt’s Pt.-.” The
matching serial number “716” is visible on the barrel lug, butt of the grip, back of the
cylinder, and inside of the back strap. The cylinder turning ring appears to be stamped
“719” which is most likely a factory error.
220