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LOT 1156
Exceptional First Year of Production Cased Colt Model 1862 Police Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 5058, 36 cal., 4 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/ casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This early Model 1862 Police was manufactured in 1861, the first year of production for this model, and remains in exceptionally fine condition despite being manufactured around the beginning of the Civil War. This model was known in the period as “Colt’s Police Pistol” and “Colt’s New Model Revolving Police Pistol” and is certainly one of the most attractive and most advanced of all of the Colt percussion revolvers. The ‘62 Police combines improvements from the Model 1860 Army such as the creeping loading lever, round barrel, and rebated cylinder with the smaller Model 1849 Pocket’s size while also offering more firepower per shot than Colt’s other pocket models. It is also significant as the last model released during Samuel Colt’s life. Colt had a new market to tap into thanks to the creation of new formal police departments in the mid-19th century. The revolver has a brass cone front sight, “ADDRESS COL SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA” on the top of the barrel, “COLTS/PATENT” on the left side of the frame, “36 CAL” and “2” on the left side of the trigger guard, and all matching serial numbers on the various metal components. It comes in a fitted hardwood case with an Eley Bros. cap tin, blued Colt patent dual cavity bullet mold marked “36 P.”, L-shaped combination tool, several bullets and balls, and a double sided Great Seal of the U.S. themed powder flask. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. 85% plus of the original, bright blue finish remains with the loss mostly confined to a section of flaking on the cylinder, thin drag lines, and some light scratches and marks. 90% plus of the original case colors remain. The trigger guard retains 85% plus of the original, age darkened silver plating, and the back strap retains some original silver at the top and the heel and otherwise has an attractive aged patina on the exposed brass. The cylinder has most of the safety pins remaining and shows no evident firing wear. The grip is excellent and has minor lower edge wear, some light scratches, and most of the original piano varnish finish. The case is very fine and has minor age and storage related wear including some minor tears and staining on the lining. The cap tin and combination tool are fine and have moderate age and storage related wear and have the vast majority of their finish. The flask and mold are both excellent and have nearly all of the finish remaining and minimal wear. This is a stunning cased set centered on an exceptional first year production Colt Model 1862 Police. Provenance: The Norm Vegely Collection. Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
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