March 1-2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/1/2018
One of the great rarities of the Colt collecting world, rarer than the Walker Model, it is stated that 240 examples were manufactured beginning with Serial No. 1100 and continued to serial No. 1340. All of these revolvers were manufactured in late 1847 at the new Hartford factory using up excess parts from the Walker in the process. Matching numbers on frame, barrel, trigger guard, backstrap and cylinder. Loading lever is numbered 966 and appears to be the only leftover part that does not match. Wedge is unnumbered. Barrel reads from breech to barrel address "SAMl COLT NEW-YORK CITY". Left side of frame is stamped "COLT'S PATENT U.S.". This is the more desirable of the two variations with the Walker-type grips that go into the frame. Has the large oval cut-outs and all original nipples. No trace of cylinder scene. Brass has never been cleaned. All legends are razor sharp. A few of the screw heads have light distortion. Indexes and locks up fine. Strong rifled bore. This rare Colt has been completely field stripped, examined and vetted by numerous experts and deemed to be one of the better existing examples of this extremely rare U.S. Martial revolver. It is considered by many to be the holy grail of Colt percussion revolvers. This revolver is examined in detail in the book of Colt firearms by R.L. Wilson on pages 82-84. 30 presentation models were given to the "who's who" of military elite, further reducing the number made for regular troops. Provenance Butterfield & Butterfield September 8th, 1999.CORRECTION: It has been determined that the barrel address has been re-stamped at some point. Original grip fitted to back strap at line of assembly.
Caliber/Bore
.44 Percussion