GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
RARE PATERSON NO. 2 POCKET MODEL PERCUSSION REVOLVER.COLTPATERSON NO. 2 POCKET8334Cal. 34. All blue finish with 3-1/2" oct bbl, pin front sight & usual "Patent Arms -- Paterson NJ Colt's Pt." Address with an attached loading lever. Cyl has rnd shoulders with oval stop notches & the centaur scene roll marking. Also cyl has a ratchet for rotation. Mounted with a 1-pc varnished walnut grip with matching SN in the buttstrap channel. SN was observed to be on the rear face of the bbl lug, rear face of cyl, trigger, frame plate, hammer & right sides of the front & backstraps under the grip. Wedge is also matching numbered. Wedge screw is missing half of its head. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson there were about 800 of these little pistols produced 1837-1840 without rammers. Rammers were added 1840-1841. After the Patent Arms Company was taken over by John Ehlers, Mr. Ehlers was one of the earliest investors in Samuel Colt's first firearms business venture, the Patent Arms Co., & became the largest stockholder. By 1840 Mr. Ehlers had become treasurer of the company and by his maneuvering combined with poor sales & the looming bankruptcy of the company gained possession of the remaining stock of completed arms when the company failed in 1842. He was able to purchase the bulk of the company for $6,000 and continued assembling Paterson revolvers & carbines from remaining stock. By 1846 the company had failed which probably made little difference as they were out of product to sell anyway. The bbl marking on this revolver is the standard marking for this model with the "M'g Co" removed from the roll die. This is a very rare pistol, few of which survive today with any orig finish. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching as noted above (no additional disassembly was effected to check for additional matching numbers). Bbl retains about 60% thinning orig blue, stronger in sheltered areas. Rammer pivot retains strong case colors, turned silver on the rammer & handle. Frame has a small flaw in the right side over a screw hole. Frame retains about 40% thinning orig blue, glossy & bright in sheltered areas, more so on the left side. Hammer retains about 70% strong case colors, dark on top edge & faded on right side. Cyl retains 50-60% thin blue patina with one small area of pitting & shows about 70% centaur scene roll marking. Front strap retains thin blue/grey patina having been lightly cleaned. Backstrap has also been cleaned & shows strong blue near the top & around the shoulders. Grip is sound showing light edge wear with a few small nicks & retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with fine pitting. 50225-1 JR227 (45,000-75,000)