GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
EXQUISITE FACTORY ENGRAVED, CASED GOLD & SILVER TIFFANY GRIPPED COLT MODEL 1849 PERCUSSION REVOLVER, EX-ROBERT Q. SUTHERLAND COLLECTION. SN: 231610. Cal. 31. This is among the most aesthetically pleasing deluxe Colt revolvers you will find. This gun is pictured on pgs 114 & 578 (color plate) The Book of Colt Firearms, R. L. Wilson, 1971. This gun is also pictured and described in Jordan and Watt's treatise Colt's Pocket '49, Its Evolution, 2000 on pgs 113 and 247. Four designs are known on these distinctive raised relief grips. This example exhibits a raised wing American eagle with floral and arabesque framing decoration. This gun was manufactured during the height of the Civil War, early in 1863. Jordan and Watts state in their text "So called "Tiffany" style grips are a rarity and are sometimes found on percussion Colts... These grips were cast in New York and were installed by special order... We only know of two Pocket '49s that are outfitted with Tiffany-style grips, both are 1-line New Yorkers. One has an American eagle [subject gun], the other, the Mexican eagle design. This gun was originally offered in a April 1967 Gun Report (pg 2) ad by Al Kelley and Jack Malloy. The gun then was described six inch barrel with New York address was originally gold and silver plated, but only 10% of this finish now remains. The metal is very clean and crisp having no rust or pitting. The barrel, rammer, frame and hammer are beautifully engraved. Cylinder is fine with the usual stagecoach hold-up scene. Serial number "23160E" and all matching. The ornate cast metal grips are brass showing an American eagle with wings outspread. Surrounding the eagle is raised, floral and scroll work. The buttcap is missing and has been replaced by a piece of walnut. This is the rarest of all the Tiffany done arms and one of the most desirable of Colt items. Rarely seen or offered for sale." Obviously, after Mr. Sutherland purchased this gun, he had it re-plated and had the buttcap beautifully restored. The added orig Colt casing has a very fine double eagle flask, 2-cavity mold, cartridge pack and cap tin. SIZE: PROVENANCE: Al Kelley Collection, 1967; Ex-Robert Q. Sutherland Collection; Pictured and described on pgs 114, 577-578 "The Book of Colt Firearms", 1971; Ex-William Meyers Collection CONDITION: Markings are all crisp and well defined. Surfaces are vibrant and 98% of gold and silver remain. Mechanically gun is crisp with well defined rifling in bore. Casing is sound and solid, retaining much of its orig varnish with empty brass plaque on lid. Flask retains 95% orig varnish and 2-cavity "Colt's Patent" mold retains about half of its thinning blue and also properly stamped "31PKT". Wood block Colt pistol pack is empty and missing about 20% of its label. Eley cap tin is very good-fine with good label marked "Made Expressly for Colts Pt Belt and Pocket Pistols". The blue lining is better than average with light fading, soiling and wear spots. Compartment lid for loose bullets has a polished bone finial and red baize cover which contrasts nicely with the blue. 51346-1 JS (15,000-25,000)