September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/5/2023
A nice early 1853 production example of a desirable Wells Fargo variation 1849 Pocket featuring a blued 3" octagon barrel without loading lever. Standard 2-line New York address and brass pin front sight. 5-shot .31 caliber cylinder rollmarked with stagecoach hold-up scene. Grips are smooth 1-piece walnut with unusual blued steel grip straps. PROVENANCE: From the advanced collection of the esteemed and respected Dr. Jim Watson of Scottsdale, Arizona. CONDITION: Very fine. Barrel retains approximately half of its original blue, the vast majority retained on the right side, with the left largely cleaned to brown patina. Cylinder retains portions of thinning factory blue with a sharp scene. The back strap displays the vast majority of its factory blue, the front strap largely fading to patina with strong traces of original finish. Significant portions of muted case colors present. Grips have a weathered appearance with strong traces of original varnish. Strong, bright bore with well-defined rifling. Mechanically fine. Matching full or partial numbers observed on the barrel, frame, grip straps, cylinder, arbor, and wedge.
Caliber/Bore
.31 Percussion