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LOT 1193
Fine Civil War Era Colt
Model 1862 Police
Percussion Revolver - Serial
no. 2992, 36 cal., 4 1/2 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened/
silver finish, varnished walnut grips. Manufactured in
1861, the first year of production for this model and the
year the Civil War commenced. 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 early pocket models. It was the last model
released during Samuel Colt’s life and would have been an excellent choice
for the new police departments starting to become more common around
the country in the mid-19th century. It has a cone front sight, Colt New York
address on the top of the barrel, and “COLTS/PATENT” on the left side of
the frame. Matching visible serial numbers on the barrel, frame, rear of the
cylinder, trigger guard, and back strap.
CONDITION: Fine with a fresh appearance, retains 60% original blue finish
and 50% vibrant case colors, 85% original silver plating showing an attractive
age darkened patina, with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance,
light freckling, crisp markings in the metal. Grip is excellent, with most of the
original glossy piano varnish finish, minimal handling marks, and distinct
edges. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 1192
Cased Colt London Model
1855 “Root” Percussion
Sidehammer Pocket
Revolver - Serial no. 12271,
31 cal., 4 1/2 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips.
Samuel Colt’s “New Model”
pocket pistols and the larger
rifles, carbines, and shotguns
of the same basic design
were the only solid frame
percussion arms produced by
Colt. This example is a Model
7A variation manufactured in
1868 and was sent to Colt’s
London Agency as shown by
the two-line “ADDRESS COL.
COLT/LONDON” marking on
the barrel, “L” on the butt below
the serial number, the London
proof marks on the barrel
and cylinder, and the London
Agency addressed direction
label inside the case lid. The two-stage round barrel also has a brass bead front sight and the matching serial number on the underside. The five-shot
cylinder has the stagecoach scene and matching serial number. The right side of the grip is stamped “219”. The oak case contains an Eley Bros. cap
tin, blued L-shaped combination tool, blued ball/bullet mold marked “31 PKT” on the right, James Dixon & Sons oiler, and James Dixon & Sons “COLTS
POCKET FLASK”.
CONDITION: Very good with 30% original blue on the barrel which has a series of scratches from the barrel being turned, traces of original blue in the
protected areas of the frame, vibrant original case colors on the hammer, dark case colors on the lever, and generally mild wear including some flash
pitting. The grip is also fine and has 90% plus of the original varnish finish remaining, minor edge wear, and a few scrapes and dings. Mechanically
fine. The refinished case exterior is very good, and the lining and label are fine. The accessories are fine with minor age and storage related wear.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 1191
Rare and Historic First Edition Elizabeth H. Colt Presentation Signed
Copy of “Armsmear” - Offered here is a first edition (1866, printer: Alvord,
New York) of the privately printed biography of famed firearms inventor
and manufacturer Samuel Colt, “Armsmear: the Home, the Arm, and the
Armory of Samuel Colt. A Memorial.” The book features a handwritten dated
presentation inscription by Samuel Colt’s widow, Elizabeth. The inscription
reads, “Mr & Mrs F.W.H. Sheffield,/With the affectionate regards of/Mrs Samuel
Colt./Armsmear/Christmas 1866.” Elizabeth or Samuel Colt’s connection
to the Sheffield family remains unknown at the time of the writing. F.W.H.
Sheffield appears to have been a banker in Dubuque, Iowa, who in 1873 was
caught up in a scandal involving defrauding the customers of two banks out
of hundreds of thousands of dollars. When Samuel died Elizabeth inherited
control of her husband’s famed firearms manufacturing company worth $3.5 million dollars in 1862 or nearly $97 million in 2021 dollars, and she
is largely credited for rebuilding the company in the aftermath of the 1864 fire. Following the death of Elisha Root in 1865, her brother, Richard
Jarvis, became company president, and the brother-sister duo oversaw the company’s successful transition from manufacturing percussion arms
of the second half of the 19th century to semi-automatics and machine guns in the early years of the 20th century. Outside the firearms business,
Elizabeth was an active community leader in Hartford. For over 20 years she served as president of the Union for Home Work, an organization
that provided daycare services for children of working mothers. She was the first president of the Hartford Soldiers Aid Society, a Civil War
woman’s charity organization that organized the delivery of donated goods to soldiers both in the field and in the hospital. She organized the
first suffragette convention in Connecticut in 1869. Due to her charitable civic actions she was given the honorary title “The First Lady of Hartford.”
Upon her death in 1905, Elizabeth Colt willed to the Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum of Art in Hartford an extensive collection of American and
European art, furnishings from her Armsmear estate, and her husband’s personal collection of firearms, edged weapons and armor. Much of the
collection is displayed in the Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt Memorial Wing, which was the first American museum wing to be named after a female
donor.
CONDITION: Very fine overall, showing little wear for its advanced age. The gilt embossing is bright. Elizabeth Colt’s signature is clearly legible as is
the rest of the inscription. A truly wonderful piece of Colt history that would look great in any Colt collection!
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500