GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXTREMELY RARE CASED COLT NO. 5 HOLSTER MODEL TEXAS PATERSON PERCUSSION REVOLVER. COLT PATERSON 892 41 Cal 41. This exact cased gun is pictured on full page with description in The Paterson Colt Book, R. L. Wilson, pg-153. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2" oct bbl, tiny German silver front sight & usual left-hand Patent Arms address with a snake at each end. Mounted with very highly figured, burl walnut 1-pc grip constructed from 2-pcs of walnut with flared butt. Cyl is unfluted with round stop notches, 5-chambers & has the stagecoach holdup scene roll marking. Accompanied by an orig burgundy velvet lined, fluted lid mahogany casing with empty German silver plaque in the lid that is recessed in the bottom for the revolver, a spare matching numbered cyl, an orig charger with matching No. "44" on each half, an orig Paterson capper matching numbered "68", a single cavity blued steel ball bullet mold with sprue cutter, 3-turned walnut handles that have brass ferrules, an orig loading tool/screwdriver/nipple pick, a steel cleaning rod with walnut handle & brass ferrule and a functioning key. Matching SN''s were observed on rear face of bbl lug, wedge, cyl spindle collar, cyl rotating ring, trigger, hammer, backstrap, buttstrap, grip & both cylinders. There are only about 1,000 of these largest of the Paterson revolvers produced 1838-1840 and although many were cased, few are known today with their orig casing & accessories. These revolvers gained fame from their use by Col. Jack Hays of the Texas Rangers where they were employed in innumerable fights with indians and outlaws of every persuasion, mostly in west and south Texas. The Paterson design was Colt''s first foray into the firearms market which was ultimately successful and led to the dynasty still in business today. Having seen such hard service on the American frontier well into the 1850''s until fully supplanted by the increasingly improved succeeding models of Colt revolvers, few Paterson revolvers survive today and incredibly few with orig casing & orig finish. This is one of the finest "Texas" Paterson extant suitable for the most discerning collector or museum collection. PROVENANCE: Page 153 "The Paterson Colt Book", R. L. Wilson. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching as noted. Bbl retains about 93-95% glossy orig blue showing only sharp edge wear with a few light surface nicks & scratches. Rear face of lug has a few dings and a small break beside the left frame pin hole. Frame shows orig blue in the more sheltered areas, being mostly a light silver patina. Hammer retains 50-60% faded case colors. One cyl retains about 80% orig blue & shows about 98% stagecoach holdup scene roll marking. The other cyl retains a light plummy patina with blue in sheltered areas & shows about 98% stagecoach holdup scene roll marking. Backstrap retains traces of faded blue being mostly a gray metal patina. Grip is sound & well fit showing most of a fine old added varnish finish highlighting areas of orig factory varnish. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore. Case is sound with light handling of storage, nicks and scratches with some crackling to the finish & overall retains about 95% orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded inside the lid with chemical staining from contact with the cyls & light soil from the charger. Bottom is lightly to moderately faded showing heavy wear under the cyl & at the muzzle with damage from the front sight. Charger retains about most of its gold wash on the powder spout end & about 60% on the ball end with the main body showing traces of bright copper polish, being mostly a dark copper patina. Both ends are completely functional. Charger is fine with a few nicks and scratches showing light high point wear & retains a medium mustard patina. Mold retains about 75% thin orig blue with solid handles. The large handles are reduced in diameter on the inside faces to facilitate closing completely, otherwise handles are solid with a hand worn patina & dark brass patina on the ferrules. Loading tool retains 40-50% thin org blue and is completely intact. Cleaning rod shows traces of orig brown with handle having worn edges and a dark brass patina on the ferrule. All together an incredible and complete orig set and one of the finest in private hands. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own the best of the most rare. 50140-1 JS102 (300,000-600,000)