October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/22/2019
Rated by authority R.L. Wilson as the rarest of all Colt collectibles ever to be offered, these Paterson Roll dies are some of the very few tools manufactured at the Patent Arms Factory for the production of the Paterson Revolver. Hand engraved by master engraver W.L. Ormsby himself and verified by Colt master engraver George Spring that these dies were hand engraved and not produced in the transfer plate process as later dies were done. Master Die and Dressing dies produced so they could be used on the No. 2 and No. 3 belt Model pistols from 1837 through 1838. This set of cylinder dies are responsible for the Centaur cylinder scene. W.L. Ormsby himself convinced Samuel Colt to have the cylinders engraved as were banknotes of the day to prevent counterfeiting of Colt's new firearms. This started a relationship between Samuel Colt and Waterman Ormsby that lasted from the creation of the Paterson pistol until the conclusion of the production or the 1972 Open Top revolver when the process of roll marking Colt cylinders was discontinued. These two pieces of unique Colt ephemera are a once in a lifetime opportunity to own one of the rarest of Colt Collectibles. PROVENANCE: Robert Pershing, John Gangle, Richard Ellis auctions, David Cline, Frank Singer, Denny Levett, Max Guenthert collections. CONDITION: Exceedingly fine with a slight mottled patina at end and in knurled areas of the dressing die. Displayed on a custom Lucite stand and comes with a small copy of the Larry Wilson letter as well as the unpublished Robert Pershing article about these tools. TDW