October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
Blue and color case hardened with round barrel, brass pin front sight and one line address. Matching numbers on frame, barrel, trigger guard, backstrap, wedge, cylinder and cylinder pin. Cylinder is usual fluted five shot with blued steel grip frame sporting a most unusual set of two piece pearl grips. Grips, as noted, are genuine pearl in two pieces with a most unusual mounting system which consists of the retaining screw through steel escutcheons with an ivory block in the middle that has two locating pins and pin recesses in each grip. Ivory block is pencil numbered to the revolver. Left grip is slightly raised carved in the pattern of a stand of flags with liberty cap, a rifle with bayonet and a star around the escutcheon. Right grip is engraved with oak leaves and acorns and a star around the grip escutcheon. Frame, barrel, back strap, trigger guard and hammer are wonderfully engraved by Master Engraver Gustave Young with full coverage foliate arabesque patterns on the frame which extend over the barrel lug. Several of the scrolls terminate in flower blossoms. Hammer is deluxe engraved with a wolf head on each side of the hammer nose and foliate arabesque patterns down the sides. Top of the back strap has Mr. Young’s typical fan pattern with foliate arabesque patterns elsewhere. Back strap is inscribed, in very fine period script engraving, “Metropolitan Fair N.Y. / from Colts Pt F.A. Mfg Co / Hartford Conn. March 28. 1864”. The fair was held for the Sanitary Commission in order to raise money for their work supplying clothing and supplies to Union soldiers in the Civil War. This revolver is pictured in full color, two exposures, on page 54 of "Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection", Wilson. The caption for these photographs and for the Root revolver on the preceding page, which is nearly identically inscribed with the date March 28th, 1864, states that Mrs. Samuel Colt, her sister Miss Jarvis, the wife of Governor Holley and Miss Olmstead were in attendance at the Connecticut booth. Accompanied by its original spectacular rosewood casing with burgundy velvet lining compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a spectacular presentation quality, high gloss finish, two cavity steel bullet mold with “COLTS PATENT” sprue cutter, marked on the right side “36P”, an equally high gloss finish nipple wrench, a single sided “COLTS PATENT” eagle flask, a full lacquered tin of Eley’s Bros. caps, two spare nipples and five original sealed packets of combustible cartridges. Inside the lid is a small card, inscribed in period ink script, “From Colts Patent / Fire Arms Company / $—.00 / 5 1/2 inch Police/Pearl Stock.” The price has been obliterated but there is little doubt that this was the orig price card from the Metropolitan Fair in 1864. Colt presentation revolvers are not uncommon, however organizational presentations such as this one are extremely rare especially given the complete deluxe treatment as found on this set. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection; Herb Glass. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including wedge and grips. Barrel retains about 30% glossy original blue with balance flaked, not worn, to a light patina. Frame and hammer retain most of their original case colors, strong and bright, slightly darkened on top edge of hammer. Cylinder retains about 50% glossy original blue with balance flaked to a light patina. Backstrap is cleaned over the inscription area to grey metal color with strong blue at top and butt strap. Trigger guard retains thin original blue, stronger in sheltered areas, grey on front strap with light pitting. Grips are extraordinary with a minor chip on right toe, otherwise are sound with great fire and color. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore with one spot of light pitting. May be unfired. Case is completely sound with faded oil cloth on bottom, lightly to moderately faded interior with very light soil. All accessories are exceptionally fine and appear to be unused. Cartridge packets are crisp. Photos are fine. Newspaper is slightly yellowed and a little brittle with worn back edge but appears to be completely intact. From the collection of Jason Roselius.
Accessories
Case, bullet mold, powder flask, caps tin, five boxes of ammo
Caliber/Bore
.36 Percussion