May 13-15, 2025 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/13/2025
This extremely handsome and desirable pair of cased Colts is comprised of an 1860 Army and a 1862 Police. An included copy of a 2019 factory letter for Gun (A), an 1860 Army serial number 2257, lists it in its current configuration as shipped as a pair on February 25, 1861 to Major W.M.B Hartley with special notation "To Col. Craig, U.S.A. Commanding Ordnance Corps. From Colt's P.F.A. Mfg, Co.", and "Furnished with a shoulder stock, a powder flask, 60 cartridges, and 500 belt caps." Major William Hartley served as a key business associate to Samuel Colt, especially with the promotion of his arms to the US Government. Henry Knox Craig was born March 7, 1791 to Revolutionary War Major Isaac Craig. His military career began during the War of 1812, serving as a first lieutenant and captain for the 2nd Artillery Regiment, and commanding Fort Niagara by the end of the War. During the Mexican War, Craig served as Chief of Ordnance for General Zachary Taylor, receiving the brevet rank of lieutenant colonel. Following the War, he inspected arsenals and was appointed US Army Chief of Ordnance on July 10, 1851 at the rank of colonel. As Chief of Ordnance, Craig pushed to maintain good peacetime stocks of arms and improve armaments, although the adoption of the Colt New Model Army (1860 Army) revolver proved a difficult sticking point. By the late 1850s, Henry Craig and Samuel Colt had a strained relationship, and despite favorable testing of the New Model Army, Craig circulated notice to the armories that they were not to acquire arms or other supplies covered under private patents in accordance with an amendment passed in 1860. Craig later is recorded as having outspoken opposition to Colt's prices and methods of procurement. Samuel Colt frequently gifted arms to win favor, and this revolver was likely no exception, although it probably had little effect. During the Spring of 1861, Craig was relieved of his duties as Chief of Ordnance against his protests to President Lincoln, remaining an advisor until his official retirement in June of 1863. There is some unfounded speculation that Colt was involved in his dismissal. Still on February 21, 1861, just 4 days before this revolver was shipped, an act was passed allowing patent arms to be purchased and the first official federal order for 1860 Army revolvers was placed in April as the country boiled over into Civil War. President Andrew Johnson eventually nominated Craig with an appointment to the rank of brevet brigadier general in 1866 before he passed away in 1869. This 1860 Army, although not inscribed, is of wonderful presentation quality fit and finish. Its 8" round barrel is finished in very lustrous high polish blue with 1-line Hartford address. Front sight is a small German silver blade. As seen on only the first 4,000 or so 1860 Army revolvers, the cylinder features full length flutes. "COLT'S / PATENT" marked case hardened frame with cuts and studs for a detachable shoulder stock. Matching blued steel backstrap. Front strap is silver plated. Grips are 1-piece oiled walnut. Externally visible numbers are matching. To preserve the remarkable condition of the gun, wedge was not removed but appears to be original. Revolver is accompanied by its original walnut shoulder stock with silver plated mounts numbered for this revolver and a consecutive mate on both the heel and lower tang. A dual cavity .44 caliber Colt's Patent mold, Colt's Patent powder flask, L tool, sealed packet of combustible envelope New Model Army revolver cartridges, and a rare paper wrapped 1000 count roll of Goldmark's percussion caps are also included. CONDITION: Excellent. Barrel and cylinder retain approximately 85% brilliant blue with some light thinning and a few spots of patina, especially near the muzzle. Back strap also retains nearly all of its factory blue with some light wear. Nearly all of the original silver plating present on the front strap. Frame, hammer, and loading lever display excellent, bright case colors. Small part nitre blue is likewise brilliant. Grips retain their original surface with some marring at the top from use with the shoulder stock. Very fine, mirror bore. Fine mechanics. Stock is also excellent with unsanded surfaces and nearly all of its silver plating. Other accessories rate as fine. Gun (B) is a 1862 Police, a handsomely scaled down pocket size version of the fluted 1860 Army in .36 caliber. This example manufactured in 1863. The barrel is finished in bright high polish blue and is rollmarked with a 1-line New York address. Fitted with a small pin front sight. 5-shot fluted cylinder set in a case hardened frame. Standard silver plated brass grip straps and 1-piece varnished walnut stocks. Matching numbers observed on the frame, grip straps, barrel assembly, and cylinder arbor. Cylinder is numbered "3812" on the reverse. Wedge is unnumbered. It is accompanied by a dual cavity .36 caliber Colt's Patent mold, Colt's Patent powder flask, L tool, and 2 packets of New Model Revolving Police Pistol combustible envelope cartridges. CONDITION: Excellent for its age. Barrel displays approximately 90% or better original lustrous blue with some scattered marks and light wear. Cylinder retains significant portions of factory blue, the balance fading to gray patina. Frame and hammer colors are somewhat muted, some bright flashes displayed on the loading lever. Strong traces of silver plate retained on the grips straps, the balance an aged mottled patina. Grips have some light marks and very mild wear along the edges of the base. Bore is strong with some black powder abrasion. Fine mechanics. Both revolvers are cased together with all of the aforementioned accessories in a large and possibly unique partitioned mahogany case. Case is lined with red crushed velvet, now somewhat faded. A Colt instruction sheet is affixed to the inside of the lid and appears to have been so for a very long time. Case overall rates very good with surface scratching. According to Greg Martin, this historic set was acquired directly from the family. Both guns are handsome in their own right but cased in this way are exceedingly attractive and scarce. An exquisite addition to any fine collection.
Accessories
Case, Accessories
Barrel Length
(A) 8" (B) 4 - 1/2"
Caliber/Bore
(A) .44 Rifled (B) .36 Rifled
Model
(A) 1860 Army (B) 1862 Pocket
Paperwork
Factory Letter, Research
Serial Number
(A) 2257 (B) 16294