GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
PAIR OF CIVIL WAR CASED CONSECUTIVE NUMBERED COLT MODEL 1862 POCKET NAVY REVOLVERS, GOLD AND SILVER FACTORY ENGRAVED WITH FABULOUS CARVED PATRIOTIC IVORY GRIPS.PR COLTPOCKET NAVIES5544/554336IVORYCal. 36. This incredible pair of exhibition revolvers made at the height of the Civil War in late 1862 have rarely seen gold plated and silver plated contrasting elements and finely relief carved grips with Lady Liberty and Columbia. Both guns are all matching and orig. Most likely this set of guns were made for a retailer to display in their store as carved ivory, gold and silver cased pairs of revolvers are virtually unknown. This exact pair of guns, once in the collection of Buddy Hackett, is pictured on pg 179 of Colt Engraving, R. L. Wilson, 1982. Guns are cased in an orig Colt casing with red lining, sgl sided eagle and stars "COLTS PATENT" flask, blued "COLTS PATENT" 2-cavity mold with sprue cutter, l-shaped combination tool and two tins of Eley caps. Guns are in the most desirable 6-1/2" bbl length and the incredibly rare casing that accompanies would be impossible to duplicate. PROVENANCE: Ex-Buddy Hackett Collection; Pictured on pg 179 "Colt Engraving" by R. L. Wilson; The Esteemed Collection of Steve Ardia. CONDITION: Very fine overall. All matching SNs found on both pistols, including wedges and grips. SNs have an additional "I.E." on bbl, frame, trigger guard and backstrap denoting factory engraving and ivory. SN 5543 retains over 90% silver on bbl with freckling and lifting to an overall non-even surface with staining and rust. Frame has similar patina to bbl with same areas of pitting. Trigger guard and backstrap retain about 80% thinning silver plate. Loading arm retains about 70% orig gold plate with balance silver/grey. Cylinder and hammer retain 60% orig gold with balance dark patina with pitting, cylinder retains 60-70% cylinder stagecoach holdup scene. SN 5544 exhibits about 90% silver plate on bbl and is overall smooth with some pitting toward housing, turning plum/brown. Frame retains about 90% silver color as frames were polished and not plated with a matching silver patina to bbl. Trigger guard and backstrap retain traces of finish in protected areas. Cylinder, hammer and loading arm retain much of their orig gold plate, though thinning on loading arm on the right side with 80-90% visible stagecoach holdup cylinder scene. Screws on this gun retain much of their orig fire blue. "Certifiable antique elephant ivory" grips exhibit ivory patina, well fit with chip on right side on SN 5543, and chip at rear toe on left side on SN 5544. Both guns are mechanically sound with discernible rifling in bores, both with light pitting. Accompanying mahogany veneered case is sound and solid with several chip reductions on lid, a blank silver escutcheon. Lining soiled, faded and worn, especially where guns and accessories make contact. Accompanying mold is properly marked "36P" and has numerous small nicks and dings where used as hammer and retains about 90% dark blued finish. L-shaped tool is equally fine. Flask is fine also, retaining about 90% orig varnish; cap tins are also fine. 49631-29 JS (25,000-40,000)