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Exceptional Masterpiece with Incredibly Scarce "Book" Case
Using the “Young lists,” R.L. Wilson estimates Young had seven employees, and the few identified surviving revolvers from the lists have been used to identify Gustave Young’s style. Since some
of the revolvers on the lists are clearly at least in part the work of Young’s staff rather than Young himself, it is possible this revolver was engraved at least in part by Herman Bodenstein who began engraving in Hartford in 1853 and took over both Young’s position as primary engraving contractor and even Young’s living quarters near the Colt Armory when Young returned to Germany with his family in 1858. We now know that Georg H. Sterzing, Augustus Grunewald, John Marr, and others also engraved for Colt during at least portions of the same period as Young. Many of the German-American engravers, including Young and Nimschke, are strongly believed to have been trained at the Industrial School in Zella, Thuringia, Germany, under Ernst Moritz and Gustav Ernst, and they used the latter’s patterns as references, so their styles are often very similar.
The engraving is exceptionally fine and detailed and covers over half of the barrel, all of the
frame, the flat sides of the loading lever arm, the trigger guard bow, and the top and bottom of
the back strap. It primarily consists of classic Germanic scroll patterns with punched backgrounds and floral accents. The scrolls include complex interlaced designs that Young also later used while engraving for Smith & Wesson and have detailed accent marks associated with Gustave Young’s
work in general. A comparison with the “Wells Fargo” revolver listed the September 23, 1854,
invoice pictured on page 96 of the “The Colt Engraving Book Volume 1” shows many distinct similarities in the engraving patterns. For example, compare the engraving on the recoil shield on the right, the engraving on the side of the trigger guard, the ray design and border on the side of the back strap, the wolf head and scroll patterns, and the simpler details such as the star designs
on the screws and the lined edge of the wedge. The engraving also includes other elements often linked to Young such as the disgorging dog’s head among the interlaced scroll patterns on the left side of the barrel by the loading lever screw, an bird’s head terminus on one of the scrolls on the
left side of the recoil shield, and the rayed designs on the corners of the barrel lug and top of the back strap. The six dots on spur of the hammer are often attributed as representing the number of working days spent on the engraving. The barrel has the “Saml Colt” script inscription with wavy
line borders in place of a barrel address, and the “COLTS/PATENT” marking on the left side of the frame is hand inscribed in an open panel in place of the usual stamped marking. The dot marking used by the factory to designate arms for engraving and special finishing is found by the lower serial numbers. There is a wavy line border and crosshatch patterns around the serial numbers on the front of the frame and bottom of the barrel lug and a radiating crosshatch pattern around the toe screw. All of the visible serial numbers match. The cylinder has the standard stagecoach roll scene. The grip is a nicely figured piece of walnut finished with a high gloss “piano” varnish.
The case looks like a book with a classic 19th century “marbled” paper cover. The leather spine has some golden borders. The interior is lined with purple and is tightly fit to the revolver and the following accessories: an Eley Bros. cap tin, double sided eagle powder flask, L-shaped combination tool, early brass double cavity bullet mold marked “COLTS/PATENT” and “P” without a sprue cutter, and a cartridge pack.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with crisp engraving throughout. The barrel retains 90% plus original high polish blue finish. The grip frame retains 98% plus of the original silver plating which has taken on a highly attractive age darkened patina on the front strap and remains brighter on the back strap. 60% plus of the slightly muted original case colors remain on the frame as well as the hammer and loading lever. The cylinder retains 40% original blue and has a distinct roll scene, some scrapes at
the front, three complete safety pins, other three pins partially worn, and general mild wear. The muzzle and face and rear of the cylinder have some mild oxidation. The deluxe grip is excellent and retains virtually all of the original high gloss “piano” varnish and has only slight handling and storage wear. The revolver remains mechanically excellent. The attractive “book” case is fine and has mild exterior wear, fading of the lining to an olive-brown tone, and attractive bright purple coloration in the areas covered by the revolver and accessories. The accessories are fine and have minor wear from age and storage such as some slight finish loss on the flask and aged patina on the brass mold. This is truly an exception case Colt Model 1849 Pocket. This model was Samuel Colt’s most popular, but high condition, factory engraved ‘49 Pockets are still scarce. With this revolver being listed by serial number on the “Young lists,” it is truly in another class with a very limited number of arms, especially once its high condition is also taken into account. This revolver will certainly be a standout in any advanced collection.
Estimate: 55,000 - 85,000
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