May 8-10, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/8/2024
Barrel with 1-line New-York U.S. America address with “COLTS PATENT” engraved in a ribbon on left side of frame. Left rear web of trigger guard is stamped with caliber marking and silver plated brass trigger guard & back strap contain a beautiful deluxe burl walnut one-piece grip with last four digits of serial in backstrap channel. It has standard 5-shot fluted cylinder that has the last four digits of serial number on rear face on lands between the nipple recesses. Frame & barrel lug are beautifully engraved by Gustave Young in late vine pattern consisting of very well executed foliate arabesque patterns with plain background. Several of the scrolls terminate in flower blossoms. Sides of barrel, over the lug, have matching engraving with sweeping ribbons terminating in foliate patterns, with one scroll on left side terminating in a bird’s head and others in flower blossoms. Engraving extends over top of barrel and terminates on top in front of address. Muzzle is engraved with a double chip pattern. Hammer has Mr. Young’s treatment with foliate arabesque patterns on sides, a wolf’s head on each side of hammer nose with fish scale patterns down sides of spur and top edge of hammer and a hand cut checkered spur. Top of back strap is engraved with Mr. Young’s typical fan pattern with sunbursts on sides of backstrap ears and foliate arabesque patterns near top of back strap, at the heel, on buttstrap & trigger guard. Serial numbers on barrel lug, frame, and butt strap are accompanied by a small “E”, used to indicate engraving. This revolver was Exhibit #85 in the 1942 Metropolitan Museum of Art Exhibit of Colt Percussion Firearms. At that time it was on loan from the very famous Parsons Collection. PROVENANCE: John Parsons Collection; Metropolitan Museum Exhibit of Colt Percussion Firearms. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching, including wedge and grip. Barrel retains the vast majority of the original strong glossy blue with the loss areas flaked to a medium patina. Rammer and handle retain virtually all of their original case colors, strong & bright, with some silvering to reciprocating area and sharp edges. Frame & hammer retain the majority of their strong, bright original case colors with some slight thinning on left side. Trigger guard & back strap retain about 50% silver plating with thinning and losses to high traffic areas and sharp edges. Cylinder retains about 60% original glossy blue, strong & bright in flutes & rebated area, thin on raised lands between the flutes. Grip shows light edge wear and retains virtually all of its original factory varnish with some superficial handling marks. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore.