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LOT 153
Exceptional Early Production Presentation Cased Factory Engraved Colt Model 1855 “Root” Sidehammer Percussion Pocket Revolver - Serial no. 1967, 28 cal., 3 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, highly figured factory walnut grips. Colt called this model his “New Model Pocket Revolving Pistol.” This outstanding Colt “Root” revolver was manufactured in 1855 and is the “Model 2” variant (serial numbers 476-25000) with the 3 1/2 inch octagon barrel, Hartford barrel address with point hand motif, and cabin and Indian fight cylinder
scene and “COLT’S PATENT” marking. Matching serial numbers are visible on
the butt, cylinder, and bottom of the barrel. The revolver also features a nickel-silver cone front sight and top strap groove and notch rear sight. The grip is nicely figured deluxe walnut with a high polish “piano” varnish finish. The revolver features beautiful German-American scroll engraving with beaded backgrounds on the breech section of the barrel, flats of the loading lever, frame, and hammer. The hammer also has a fish scale design, bordered knurling, and a “V” with seven dots. A very similarly engraved Colt Model 1855 Pocket is attributed to Herman Bodenstein on pages 24-25 of “Colt Factory Engravers of the 19th Century” by Herbert Houze who notes that Bodenstein was working in Hartford in early 1855 prior to moving temporarily to Milwaukee. He later became Colt’s primary engraving contractor after Gustave Young left to Germany in 1858. The revolver is in a fitted presentation case with hunter green lining, two
scarce cartridge packs labeled for this model, an Eley Bros. cap tin, a “COLTS/PATENT” pocket flask with eagle and revolver designs on both sides, L-shaped combination screwdriver, key, a proper .28 caliber brass ball/bullet mold with iron sprue cutter marked “COLTS/PATENT,” and several lead balls and bullets.
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