GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
SCARCE CASED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER. Colt POCKET 322442 .31 Cal 31. Blue and color case hardened with 6" oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line New-York US America address. Left side of frame is marked "COLTS PATENT" and left shoulder trigger guard is marked 31 cal. Cyl is unfluted with Stagecoach hold-up scene roll marking. The brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a 1-pc varnished walnut grip with the last 4 digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Accompanied by a fine burgundy velvet lined Colt casing that has shield shaped lock escutcheon in the front and is compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a single sided "COLTS PATENT" eagle & stars flask, a blued steel "COLT''S PATENT" bullet & ball mold with sprue cutter and marked on right side "31 PKT", a packet of 6 combustible cartridges and a tin of Ely''s caps with blue label. This revolver was produced in about 1870 toward the end of production but still in a time when the west was very wild and carrying a firearm was a daily way of life. This model of Colt revolver, although with more than 330,000 produced 1850-1873 very few are found today with high orig finish and few of those were cased. These revolvers usually saw very hard service on the American frontier and literally around the world. PROVENANCE: Michael Simens; The Esteemed Collection of Steve Ardia. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching including wedge, cyl & grip except rammer handle which is properly un-numbered. Bbl retains 97-98% glossy orig blue with only faint sharp edge wear and a couple of small spots on right side of bbl lug. Rammer, pivot & handle retain most of their strong orig case colors. Frame retains virtually all of its bright orig case colors turned a little dark on recall shields. Hammer retains bright case colors, faded on top edge with fine pitting around the hammer nose. Cyl retains 85-90% thinning orig blue and shows about 98% Stagecoach hold-up scene roll marking. Grip frame is a medium mustard patina showing silver under the grip. Grip is sound with light edge wear, a few small dings and retains 97-98% crisp orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore with fine pitting. Case has 3 or 4 small grain checks in the bottom, otherwise is completely sound with a few light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish. Interior lining is bright and strong with light soil in the lid and moderate soil in the bottom, solid partitions. Flask retains about 85% strong orig finish. Mold is crisp and new retaining virtually all of its bright orig blue. Cartridge packet is very fine. Cap tin is good. Altogether a fine frontier era set. 49631-12 JR8 (20,000-30,000)