April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
Blue and color case hardened with brass pin front sight and one line New York address. Left side of frame has a small “COLTS PATENT” and left shoulder of trigger guard is marked “36 CAL”. Cylinder is half fluted and rebated with five chambers and all five safety pins serviceable. The silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a varnished one piece walnut grip with last four digits of matching serial number in backstrap channel. Accompanied by an original, burgundy velvet lined Colt casing, compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a double sided eagle and stars Colt flask, a blued “COLT’S PATENT” bullet mold with sprue cutter marked on the right side “36P”, an “L” shaped nipple wrench, a full sealed packet of five combustible skin cartridges, a lacquered tin of Eley’s caps and a functioning key. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique Firearms there were about 28,000 of these fine revolvers produced in the period 1861 to 1873. This revolver appears to have been produced in about 1863, during the height of the Civil War when any type of revolver was in great demand. Although there are no known military contracts for this model of Colt, it’s a safe bet that the majority of the production before the end of the war were private purchase and used during the Civil War. After the war they remained in service, primarily on the Western frontier and are rarely found today in original configuration with any original finish. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine, all matching including cylinder and grip. Barrel retains about 95% glossy original blue with light muzzle edge wear and a small chemical spot with a few tiny nicks. Rammer handle retains brilliant case colors. Frame retains strong case colors on the sides, lightly faded, with moderately faded colors on recoil shields. Hammer retains moderately faded case colors. Cylinder retains about 85% strong blue, showing sharp edge wear and thinning over the chambers, all five safety pins are serviceable. Trigger guard and backstrap retain about all of their strong original silverplate finish. Grip is sound with one small spot of black stain on the left side at the frame, otherwise is nearly flawless and retains about all of its crisp original varnish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Appears to be unfired. Case is sound with light handling and storage nicks and scratches and retains virtually all of its original varnish. Inside the lid is lightly faded with some minor staining from contact with the revolver. Bottom is moderately faded and lightly soiled with light damage from the front sight and hammer spur. Flask has a broken spring, otherwise is as new. Mold is battered on both sides and bottom, but retains about 90% crisp original blue, other accessories are fine.
Accessories
case, accessories
Caliber/Bore
.36 Percussion