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LOT 1166
Scarce U.S. Marked Colt
Third Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver
with Desirable Three-Leaf Rear Sight, “Four-Screw” Frame, and Shoulder Stock - Serial
no. 17190, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened/brass finish, walnut stock, walnut grips. Colt’s
Third Model Dragoon revolvers were the last of Colt’s massive “horse pistols” descended from the famous Colt Walker. The Dragoons were used by the 1st and
2nd Dragoons and U.S. Regiment of Mounted Riflemen in the West in the antebellum era and also saw extensive use during the Civil War by both sides. This Third Model Dragoon
was manufactured in 1858 and features “GGS” (G.G. Saunders) and “WAT” (Captain William Anderson Thornton) inspector cartouches on the grip as well as a shoulder
stock with “WAT” and “BH” (Major Benjamin Huger or possibly Benjamin Hannis)
cartouches. The barrel has a half-moon German silver blade front, dovetail mounted three-leaf rear sight, and the one-line New York address. The cylinder has the classic roll scene depicting a running battle between the Texas Rangers and the Comanche and the “MODEL U.S.M.R.” and “COLT’S PATENT” markings. The left side of the frame has the “COLTS/PATENT/U.S.” marking. The frame’s recoil shield
is cut for a shoulder stock, and the elongated mounting screws are fitted to the sides of the frame.
The butt has the corresponding slot for the stock. There are several small inspection type markings, including some
additional “C” markings on multiple components (likely condemnation marks). Matching serial numbers are found on the
loading lever, cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, back strap, and rear mortise of the grip. The wedge is tight and was not
removed. The shoulder stock is numbered “17190/17191.” Only around 1,500 Dragoons were made with provisions for shoulder stocks. These revolvers were issued in pairs with one shoulder stock, and they are rarely found today complete with an original U.S. contract stock, let alone one that is matching numbered. The consignor estimated that less than a dozen matching paired martial Dragoon revolvers and shoulder stocks are known today. CONDITION: Very good with mostly mottled gray patina, distinct markings, strong patterns of case colors visible at the rear of the frame and hammer, strong blue on the top of the back strap, some artificial aging, a few replaced screws, attractive aged patina on the brass, and distinct markings. The grip is very fine and has distinct cartouches and light handling and storage marks. The renumbered shoulder stock is very good and has artificial gray and brown patina, mild pitting, slight chips and a hairline crack on the front of the wrist on the right, legible cartouches, and general mild wear. Mechanically fine. Overall, this is a solid representative set.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
LOT 1167
Historic Civil War Era Factory Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver Inscribed to
Captain George Coppage - Serial no. 91781, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, antique ivory grips. This revolver was manufactured in 1859 and features a dovetailed blade front sight, the one-line Hartford barrel address, standard markings, including
matching visible serial numbers, a screw with a large head for the hammer, the apostrophe marking by the main serial numbers designating factory
engraving, and extensive German-American scroll and floral engraving with beaded backgrounds, a dog head inhabiting the scrollwork on the left side of the barrel,
and “Capt G. Coppage” inscribed down the back strap. Though previously attributed to Gustave Young a number of years ago, this revolver was most likely engraved by Georg Sterzing as the
revolver was manufactured in 1859 and some of the elements more closely match the examples attributed to Sterzing in “Colt Factory Engravers of the 19th Century” by Houze. As Houze and
others have pointed out, much of the work attributed to Young by R.L. Wilson and others was actually executed by other talented master engravers working for Colt that employed similar
styles and were also trained in Germany. Information on Captain George Coppage of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry accompanies the revolver and indicates he enlisted on October 28, 1861, and
resigned on December 2, 1862, at Nashville. He helped raise company D with Samuel M. Boone and was commissioned as their captain. Hardin, Joseph, and Stephen Coppage all also served in the 1st Kentucky
Cavalry. They fought at Wild Cat, Prestonburg, Pulaski, Murfreesboro, the pursuit of Bragg, the capture of the 3rd Georgia Cavalry at New Haven, Perryville, Mountain Gap, Nashville, and in the pursuit of Morgan. His invalid pension documents indicate he was suffering from various
ailments, including rheumatism and varicose veins, from exposure after sleeping on the ground in rain and snow without tents and service in the cavalry. When he resigned, Boone took over as captain of Company D.
CONDITION: Very good with mostly silver-gray patina overall, generally distinct engraving, faint but legible back strap inscription, traces of the cylinder scene, and attractive aged patina on the grip strap. The hammer screw is an oversize period replacement. The grip is fine and has attractive natural aged tones and grain, some minor age cracks, and a little shrinkage. Mechanically fine. This is definitely an attractive
and interesting factory engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy inscribed to a Union cavalryman from the important border state of Kentucky. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
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