April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2023
One of the most desirable and iconic of Colt's black powder revolvers, the Colt No. 5 "Texas Model" Paterson is best known for its use with the Republic of Texas in the Texas Rangers and the Texas Navy. An estimated total of 1,000 ever produced during the period of 1838-1840, and serial numbered from 1 on up, this example being serial number 996 with only one other example known with a higher serial number (998). 1-line address on top flat of barrel reading "Patent Arms Mfg. Co. Paterson, N.J.- Colt's Pt." with broken "a", "t" , "m" and snake at end of barrel address. Small German silver front sight and "v" notch rear sight in top hammer lip. Barrel is in .36 caliber with 11 groove rifling. 5 shot unfluted percussion cylinder featuring faint traces of stagecoach hold up scene. Spur trigger with exposed hammer. Barrel has double curved lug with scalloped frame and flared grip. Mounted with a 1-piece flared walnut grip. Serial numbers observed on buttstrap, rear face of barrel lug, on the wedge, cylinder, inside the backstrap, and inside the frontstrap. Serial number on rotating ring is "375" and the tip of the cylinder spindle has been altered, probably from an old repair which obliterated the serial number. Featured on page 155 of "The Paterson Colt Book" by R.L. Wilson and Dennis Levitt. Included with this lot is a copy of a survey sheet from Herb Glass Sr. documenting configuration as well as the provenance of this revolver. Owners included Herb Glass Sr. in 1946, Charles Nichols from 1946-1998, Paul Serrell in 1998, Jay Brown from 1998-2004, Dennis Levitt in 2004, Bobby Smith in 2004, and Lou Steadman from 2004-2006. Also included is a copy of an appraisal dated December 12, 2006 from John Sexton. CONDITION: Gun retains no finish and has turned to a pleasing even gray-brown patina with freckling and light pitting scattered across the gun. Grips have been cleaned at one point, and have chips and dings across both bottom sides. Gun functions but mainspring is heavy. Left side of frame was taken down and hammer lip has some chips. Minor pitting and frosting in the lands and grooves with well-defined rifling. With so little produced and the amount of time that has passed, finding an original Colt No. 5 Texas Paterson like this one is a district rarity. This would be the centerpiece of any Colt collection as well as a Republic of Texas collection.
Model
No. 5 Texas Paterson
Paperwork
Provenance, Previous Descriptions