Page 154 - 87-BOOK3

LOT 3212
Excellent Civil War Era Cased Colt Model 1849 Pocket Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 203300, 31 cal., 5 inch octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This incredible cased Colt Model 1849 Pocket was manufactured in 1862 during the American Civil War. Given it was produced during the war, it is very surprising that this revolver in such high condition. Many of Colt’s ever popular ‘49 Pockets were carried by Union and Confederate soldiers during the war as privately owned sidearms. They appear in many photographs of Union soldiers in particular. While not nearly as powerful as the Model 1860 Army that was widely issued to the Union cavalry, the ‘49 Pocket would have been much less cumbersome to carry for an infantryman using a revolver as a back-up sidearm to their full-sized rifle-musket. The revolver has a small cone front sight, the two-line “-ADDRESS SAML COLT/HARTFORD CT.-” barrel address, “2” on the left side of the barrel lug, the standard stagecoach cylinder roll scene, “COLTS/PATENT” on the left side of the frame, “B” and “G” on the left side of the trigger guard, and matching serial numbers on the barrel, wedge, arbor pin, cylinder, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The case contains some lead balls and bullets, two cartridge packs, an Eley Bros. cap tin, a small Great Seal of the U.S. themed powder flask, L-shaped combination tool, and brass Colt’s patent ball/bullet mold without a sprue cutter. CONDITION: Excellent with 98% plus of the bright original blue finish on the barrel, 80% plus original blue finish on the cylinder along with a crisp roll scene and solid safety pins, 95% plus vivid original case colors on the frame as well as the loading lever and hammer, 98% plus of the now age darkened original silver plating on the grip straps, and minimal age and storage related wear including some light scratches and dings. The grip is also excellent and has essentially all of the glossy original varnish remaining, minimal lower edge wear, and faint handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are very fine and have minor age and storage related wear. Provenance: The Don and Carol Wilkerson Collection. Estimate: 9,500 - 14,000
152