GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
EXTREMELY FINE AND UNIQUE FACTORY ENGRAVED DONUT SCROLL COLT MODEL 1849 PERCUSSION REVOLVER WITH "EAGLE & PEACE" PANEL SCENE. COLT 1849 33610 31 Cal. 31. This beautiful cased pocket model was made about 1852 and exhibits factory engraving identical to other examples noted pre-1853 with "donut scroll" engraving on bbl housing, frame, backstrap, trigger guard and hammer. Most unusual and unique feature of this revolver which has never been seen on another example is the 2" spread wing eagle grasping pistol in either talon above a ribbon held in eagles beak emblazoned "PEACE". There are few other "donut scroll" engraved Colts with panel scenes but nothing like this very special example. Housed in a red velvet lined mahogany case with 2-cavity brass mold and "L" shaped combination nipple wrench/screwdriver. A pack of cartridges, cap tin, double eagle flask, and about 10 loose bullets fill compartments. This unique clearly shows eagle holding what appear to be Wesson & Leavitt dragoon revolvers with side hammers, the same patent infringement revolvers being made by Mass Arms at the time the law-suit which was won by Colt that ended their production. this pistol may represent a tribute to this fact CONDITION: very fine to extremely fine overall. Markings including SNs, and engraved maker and patent marks are crisp as is engraving overall. Bbl & Cyl retain 30-40% bright original blue, balance a blue/plum patina. The frame & hammer retain about 80% bright and muted case colors as does the loading arm pivot, balance silver/gray; top of loading load has darkened colors. The vibrant case colors are reminiscent of Civil War era Colts and not 1852 when case colors from Colt were silvery/gray. It is possible the gun was retained by Colt for posterity and refreshed by the factory prior to its sale at a later date. The silver and blue appear absolutely untouched. Matching SNs found externally on all parts including bbl, loading arm, frame, cyl, trigger guard, backstrap. Backstrap & trigger guard retain 95% of their original silver plate with most of loss at butt. The "select walnut" grips are well fit showing bright burl colors retaining 90% plus original factory varnish with moderate edge wear. Revolver is mechanically sound, retaining all 5 crisp safety pins on cyl. Cyl also has traces of blue in chambers. Bore is crisp and bright. Mahogany Colt casing retains traces of thinning original factory varnish, sound and solid, missing keyhole escutcheon. Interior red velvet is light faded with soiling and stains where cyl, hammer and muzzle abut. Brass 2-cavity mold "COLT'S PATENT" is excellent, smooth with yellow brass patina. Double sided eagle flask retains 80-90% mottled light gold colored varnish and is very fine overall. L-shaped tool has 30-40% blue with pitting, cap tin and packet of Colt cartridges are also very good to fine, The loose balls, extra nipple are fine also. 50154-4 JS (15,000-25,000)