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LOT 3112
Factory Engraved Civil War Era
Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver - Serial no.
169829I.E., 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, antique ivory grips. Manufactured in 1863, this is a solid representative example of a factory engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver done very much in the style of Gustave Young. The upper and side barrel flats,
barrel lug, frame, rear sides of the loading lever, back strap, butt, and trigger guard bow are engraved with the late percussion vine style
engraving pattern. This style is discussed in the book “The Book of Colt Engraving” by R.L. Wilson and there is a photograph of a Model 1860 Army revolver on page 147 with similar engraving as on this revolver. There are floral blossoms among the scrollwork, and the sides of the hammer have a wolf’s head motif and the same
vine style as on the rest of the revolver. There is a shell design on the top of the back strap. The top barrel flat is marked “-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-”. The left side of the frame is stamped “COLTS/PATENT.” The cylinder is roll engraved with the Texas/Mexico naval battle scene and marked “COLTS PATENT No 9829”. The complete matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap, the partial serial number “9829” is marked on the cylinder, arbor
pin and barrel wedge, and the partial serial number “829” is marked on the loading lever. The letters “I.E.” are stamped above the serial number on the barrel lug and below the number on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. This marking was used by the factory on revolvers designated for factory engraving, and many of the engraved revolvers from the 1860s would have been presented to military officers or government officials. Standard brass cone front and hammer notch rear sights, the barrel and cylinder were blue, silver plated brass trigger guard and back strap, and casehardened remaining parts. CONDITION: Very good. The revolver has a smooth brown-gray patina with light pitting overall, traces of the cylinder scene remaining and overall crisp engraving. The brass grip straps have an attractive appearance. The attractively aged grip is fine with a chip along the back edge near the butt (left side), typical age lines on the butt, minor handling marks, and attractive mellow appearance. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 9,000 - 12,000
LOT 3113
Desirable Colt Pre-First Model “Fluck” Dragoon Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 2352, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part octagon bbl.,
blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1848, this revolver falls into the reported 2,001 to 3,000 serial number range for the Walker Replacement Dragoons first identified by researcher
John J. Fluck in 1956. Estimates for the total production of these revolvers are as low as 300 but the total is likely closer to 1,000. They are
also known as “pre-First Model Dragoons” or “Second Contract Dragoons” and were designed to replace Walker revolvers that failed while in use by the U.S. military
using original Walker parts and reworked parts. The revolver has the distinctive First Model style oval cylinder stops and brass square back trigger guard. The top of the barrel flat is marked “ADDRESS SAMl COLT, NEW-YORK CITY” reading from the breech to the muzzle. “COLT’S/PATENT/U.S.” marked on the left of the frame. The cylinder is recut with the roll engraved Indian and Rangers battle scene and “MODEL U.S.M.R./COLT’S PATENT”. There is a small “P” inspection mark stamped
on the top of the back strap and on the upper left side of the barrel. The complete matching serial number is marked on the barrel, frame, cylinder (re-stamped), trigger guard, back strap, wedge, and arbor pin. The replacement loading lever is numbered “118”. Blade front and hammer notch rear sights. The frame was casehardened, the grip frame silver plated and the remaining metal surfaces were blue finished . Fitted with a smooth one-piece walnut grip with a visible cartouche on the bottom of the left panel and faint remnants of a cartouche on the bottom of the right panel.
CONDITION: Fair with smooth gray patina on the iron surfaces, and scattered patches of moderate pitting. Shaved, renumbered, replacement cylinder with recut scene and artificial aging. Brass displays bright as lightly cleaned. Grip is also fair as sanded and re-oiled with general overall wear, and scattered scratches and dents. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 3114
Unique, Large, Double Sided, Raised Relief Carved Wood “Colt Paterson Revolver” Center Piece Gun Store Sign - This large wooden early 20th century gun store sign is double sided, featuring an
absolutely unique relief carved Colt Texas Paterson revolver at the center of both sides which is painted black with a brown grip. Over the revolver is painted “HL BEAN” in red, with “GUNS-AMMO” below in the same red. The remainder of the sign is finished with a teal paint. A small note is attached to the sign stating that the sign was originally used at the Henry Lewis Bean gun shop located in West-Moreland County, Pennsylvania c. 1903-1919 and purchased at a Pittsburgh auction in 1967. A length of chain is attached with two brackets at the top for hanging. It measures approximately 36 1/4 x 27 1/4 inches at its widest points. CONDITION: Fine overall, the period repainted paint showing some mild fading and moderate flaking, which altogether creates an attractive antique aged patina that one might expect of a sign hanging outside of a local gun shop for years. Both an attractive and unique decor piece for a gun vault or room of an antique Colt collector!
Estimate: 2,500 - 5,000 77