GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER. Colt POCKET 95037 .31 IVORY Cal. 31. Blue and color case hardened with 4" oct bbl, brass pin front sight and engraved "Saml Colt" address. Left side of frame is engraved "COLTS PATENT" in a pillow-shape. Cyl is unfluted with 5-chambers and well struck stagecoach holdup scene roll marking with all 5 safety pins prominent and serviceable. The silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a smooth, 1-pc "certifiable antique elephant ivory" grip with matching SN in backstrap channel. Grip is made of two slabs of ivory attached to an ivory spacer. Revolver is beautifully deluxe engraved by Gustave Young with full coverage fine foliate arabesque patterns that have pearled background. Two scrolls on the frame terminate in flower blossoms. Matching patterns extend over the bbl lug and top side flats with one scroll on the left side terminating in Mr. Young''s mythical birds head and another just above the wedge screw with Mr. Young''s dog''s head. Right side has another scroll that terminates in a flower blossom. Another unusual feature is a small sunburst on the bottom right of the bbl lug. Matching patterns are also on the rammer pivot, backstrap, buttstrap and trigger guard. Top of the backstrap is engraved with Mr. Young''s fine fan pattern and sides of the backstrap shoulders are engraved in sunbursts. Hammer is engraved with a wolf''s head on each side of the nose, foliate arabesque patterns on the shank and fish scale patterns on the top edge & sides of the spur. Screws & wedge are also engraved. Accompanied by a fine brown velvet lined mahogany Kidder casing that is compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a single-sided "COLTS PATENT" eagle & stars flask, a brass "COLTS PATENT" bullet & ball mold without sprue cutter, a lacquered tin of Eley''s caps, a spare nipple and a functioning key. This revolver is pictured in color on pg 95 of The Colt Engraving Book, Volume One, Wilson with credit to the Charles Radcliffe Collection. This revolver was produced in about 1854 at a time of the great migration to the American frontier when any repeating firearm was in great demand. These little revolvers were extremely popular and usually saw very hard and continuous service and are rarely found today with high orig finish. Given that this revolver has Mr. Young''s extra finish engraving, it surely must have been for someone of great wealth or as a presentation to someone for service or great valor. Over 330,000 of this model revolver was produced 1850-1873. They remained in service well into the 1870''s until completely supplanted by cartridge firearms. PROVENANCE: Charles Radcliffe Collection; Michael Simens; The Esteemed Collection of Steve Ardia. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching including rammer, wedge, cyl and grip. Bbl retains 97-98% glossy orig blue with only faint sharp edge wear. Rammer, pivot and handle retain about all of their strong orig case colors. Frame and hammer also retain virtually all of their naturally muted case colors. Cyl retains about 95-96% orig blue showing light front edge wear & some thinning on the shoulder and shows about 99% crisp stagecoach holdup scene roll marking. Trigger guard & backstrap retain virtually all of their orig silver plating. Grip is crisp with sharp edges and a fine ivory patina. Trigger retains most of its orig fire blue. Mechanics are fine; bright shiny bore. Case has a couple of grain checks in the lid, otherwise is sound with light handling & storage nicks & scratches and overall retains about all of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded with light soiling inside the lid and moderate to heavy soil in the bottom with intact partitions. Flask is fine and retains about 65-70% orig finish. Mold is crisp with a few minor nicks. Cap tin is also fine. 49631-7 JR24 (25,000-37,500)