Page 157 - 88-BOOK2

Rare and Highly Desirable Colt No. 5 Texas Paterson Revolver with Loading Lever
LOT 1155
Rare and Highly Desirable Colt No. 5 Texas Paterson Revolver with Loading Lever - Serial no. 715, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Approximately 1,000 No. 5 Texas Paterson revolvers manufactured by Samuel Colt’s Patent Arms Manufacturing Company from 1838-40. The No. 5 Holster Model were the largest of all the Paterson handguns and achieved fame as a result of their use by Captain Jack Hays and other Rangers on the Texas frontier. In fact, a major purchaser of the No. 5 was the Republic of Texas. Samuel Walker was familiar with the No. 5 during his days as a Texas Ranger and used the revolver to great effect. His experience with the Paterson persuaded him to advocate for a larger, quicker loading revolver powerful enough to kill either a man or horse with a single shot. His discussions with Samuel Colt led to the Colt Walker Model revolver in 1847. What followed next was a rapid evolution in revolver design spearhead by Colt who introduced the Dragoon series of revolvers that were based on the Walker design. Samuel Walker is often credited for establishing early Colt revolvers as an effective handgun. The Walker and Dragoon revolvers definitely provided Colt with financial relief and fame. With only 1,000 manufactured, No. 5 Patersons in any condition are rarely encountered. They saw hard use on the frontier and examples with any remaining finish are nearly unheard of. A rarity in Colt collecting, this model is one of the most sought after Colt percussion arms. It transcends collector genres due to its large size, historical significance and association with Texas Ranger Jack Hays. Owning a Paterson is one of the great prizes for collectors.
155