GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
RARE AND FINE BRACE OF 2 WESSON & LEAVITT MASS ARMS DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVERS. PR WESSON & LEAVITT DRAGOON 22/79 .40 Cal. 40. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/8" rnd bbl on SN 79 and 6-1/4" rnd bbl on SN 22, German silver front sight and a tiny fixed sight at rear of top strap. Top straps are marked “MASS ARMS CO / CHICOPEE FALLS”. Frame & cyl spindle are color case hardened as is the right side mounted back action lock. Cylinder is 6-shots with convex front edge, contoured to mate with the angle of the bbl forcing cone. Cyl is unfluted & smooth with a square rear face that has stop notches. Back of cylinders are marked "LEAVITT''S PATENT APRIL 29 1837" and back of breech marked "WESSON''S PATENT AUG. 28 1849". Locks are marked "WESSON''S & LEAVITT''S PATENT". Nipples are set in angled recesses. Brass trigger guard is attached to the bottom of the receiver & front strap. Mounted with a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN on front face under the wood. Back strap & butt strap are 1-pc blued steel with matching SN on inside near the tip. Front face of recoil shield is also matching numbered. Only about 800 of these rare revolvers were produced in the period 1850-1851 and this is possibly the only early pair ever offered and they are a beautiful matching pair. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Fine overall. Both appear all matching with good markings. Overall guns are crisp with sharp edges retaining about 40-50% case color on SN 22, about 10% on SN 79 with balance matching silver/grey on each. SN 22 retains about 50% of its orig blue though thinning, SN 79 retains about 10% blue with both guns having a balance of grey/plum. Stocks are sound and well fit on each gun, wood is darker on SN 22. Both retain much of their orig varnish with scattered dings, dents and edge wear; SN 79 has several chips on butt edges. Mechanically guns function well with shiny bright bores. 49059-149 JS (6,000-10,000)