EXTREMELY RARE MATCHED BRACE OF COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS WITH 6″ BARRELS.

SN 46668 & 46671. Cal. 44. Virtually identical brace of special configuration Model 1860 revolvers, both with 6″ bbl, German silver front sights, rebated six shot cylinders that have Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking and 3-screw frames cut for shoulder stock. Left side of frames have small “COLTS PATENT” and caliber marking on left shoulder of trigger guards. Brass trigger guards and steel back straps are nickel plated and contain varnished 1-pc walnut grips that have last four digits of matching serial numbers to their respective revolvers in back strap channels. Bbl of #46668 has 1-line New-York U.S. America address and #46671 has a 1-line Hartford address. Serial numbers on bottom of both revolvers and butt straps are accompanied by a small “2” which signifies that these revolvers were a pair. These revolvers are accompanied by a volume of information compiled by Norm Flayderman after he acquired them in May of 1975. One of the items is a note on a small bill head from the Tillou Gallery of Litchfield, CT. dated May 3, ’75, addressed to “Norm” apparently transmitting historical society records “on the pair of Colt’s you purchased” and signed “your Litchfield agent / Peter”. Also accompanying is a copy of the orig Litchfield Historical Society donor card which simply says “Brace of Pistols – Colt 44”. The donor is listed as “Mrs. H.W. Wessells, 1912 / Given by Col. Sam Colt to Col. L.W. Wessells on formation of Ltfd Co. Reg. in 1862”. Also accompanied by a Colt factory letter dated Aug. 8, 1975, addressed to Norm Flayderman for these two revolvers. The revolvers are identified in Cal. 44 with 6″ bbls, “plated” finish with walnut stocks, shipped, May 28, 1863 in a 12-gun shipment. An additional paragraph states that these two revolvers are listed in Vol. 4, p.120 of the Civil War books at the Colt factory and lists the other ten revolvers in the shipment, all in the 46600 serial range. Additionally accompanying are copies of several pages apparently from a book regarding Connecticut volunteers in the Civil War. Page ten shows that Col. Wessells received his commission on July 25, 1862 and assembled a company at Litchfield. He formed the 19th Infantry which later became the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment. It appears that the regiment was assigned duty in the defenses around Washington and Alexandria. Apparently his duty continued for about a year before they were put into action. In the meantime Col. Wessells apparently became ill and resigned on Sept. 15,1863 after only one year of service. He apparently returned to Connecticut and records show that in January 1879 he was appointed Brig. Gen. and Quarter Master Gen. for the state of Connecticut. Prior to the war, apparently Mr. Wessells was deputy sheriff and sheriff, a position he held from 1854-1866. He later became a representative to the General Assembly 1875-1877. Gen. Wessells was born in 1819 in Litchfield, CT. and died in Dover, DE in 1895. Also accompanying is a copy of a 2-page letter on Mr. Flayderman’s letterhead dated May 2011 wherein he describes these revolvers and in one paragraph states that Mrs. Wessells “gave them to a well known historic society in the state of Connecticut. They were retained by that society from 1912 until released by them for sale in May 1975 to a well known antique dealer in the state from whom I acquired them immediately after his acquisition at that time in May 1975…and have had them ever since”. Later in the paragraph Mr. Flayderman relates that he did not believe these revolvers were a presentation pair from Colt, but were among a group of a few guns donated to the regiment. He relates that had they been an actual presentation they would have been inscribed. Col. Wessells 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery went on to compile a fine record after he resigned, engaging a number of major battles & skirmishes. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, there were a little over 200,000 of Model 1860 revolvers produced 1860-1873. Referenced publication states “About a dozen Army revolvers are known to have been manufactured with 6″ barrels. These are in the 46000 serial range —.” PROVENANCE: Norm Flayderman Estate Collection. CONDITION: #46668. About fine, all matching except wedge which is unnumbered. Bbl retains 40-50% flaked, restored blue with the balance a mottled silver/brown patina with some fine pinprick pitting; rammer pivot & handle retain dark case colors; frame & hammer retain brilliant factory case colors, slightly faded on left recoil shield and top edge of hammer; cyl retains 30-40% thin restored blue/brown patina with stronger blue in the rebated area and four of the six safety pins serviceable; cyl shows 25-30% thin Ormsby Naval battle scene; trigger guard retains about 95% nickel; back strap & butt strap retain about 80% nickel with moderate pimpling. Grip has a chipped right heel, shows moderate edge wear with a few nicks & scratches, a couple of bruises on the right side and retains 85-90% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with scattered pitting. #46671. Fine, all matching except wedge which is unnumbered. Bbl retains 35-40% glossy factory blue with the loss areas flaked to a medium/dark patina; frame & hammer retain brilliant factory restored case colors with crisp markings; cyl retains 50-60% factory blue and shows about 50% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking and has five of the six safety pins prominent and serviceable; trigger guard retains virtually all of its orig nickel and back strap about 70% orig nickel with heavy, fine pimpling; grip is sound showing light to moderate use and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine; bright shiny bore with a few scattered small spots of pitting. 4-51162 JR154 (12,500-17,500) – Lot 2082

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2082	$34,500.00	EXTREMELY RARE MATCHED BRACE OF COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS WITH 6″ BARRELS. SN 46668 & 46671. Cal. 44. Virtually identical brace of special configuration Model 1860 revolvers, both with 6″ bbl, German silver front sights, rebated six shot cylinders that have Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking and 3-screw frames cut for shoulder stock. Left side of frames have small “COLTS PATENT” and caliber marking on left shoulder of trigger guards. Brass trigger guards and steel back straps are nickel plated and contain varnished 1-pc walnut grips that have last four digits of matching serial numbers to their respective revolvers in back strap channels. Bbl of #46668 has 1-line New-York U.S. America address and #46671 has a 1-line Hartford address. Serial numbers on bottom of both revolvers and butt straps are accompanied by a small “2” which signifies that these revolvers were a pair. These revolvers are accompanied by a volume of information compiled by Norm Flayderman after he acquired them in May of 1975. One of the items is a note on a small bill head from the Tillou Gallery of Litchfield, CT. dated May 3, ’75, addressed to “Norm” apparently transmitting historical society records “on the pair of Colt’s you purchased” and signed “your Litchfield agent / Peter”. Also accompanying is a copy of the orig Litchfield Historical Society donor card which simply says “Brace of Pistols – Colt 44”. The donor is listed as “Mrs. H.W. Wessells, 1912 / Given by Col. Sam Colt to Col. L.W. Wessells on formation of Ltfd Co. Reg. in 1862”. Also accompanied by a Colt factory letter dated Aug. 8, 1975, addressed to Norm Flayderman for these two revolvers. The revolvers are identified in Cal. 44 with 6″ bbls, “plated” finish with walnut stocks, shipped, May 28, 1863 in a 12-gun shipment. An additional paragraph states that these two revolvers are listed in Vol. 4, p.120 of the Civil War books at the Colt factory and lists the other ten revolvers in the shipment, all in the 46600 serial range. Additionally accompanying are copies of several pages apparently from a book regarding Connecticut volunteers in the Civil War. Page ten shows that Col. Wessells received his commission on July 25, 1862 and assembled a company at Litchfield. He formed the 19th Infantry which later became the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment. It appears that the regiment was assigned duty in the defenses around Washington and Alexandria. Apparently his duty continued for about a year before they were put into action. In the meantime Col. Wessells apparently became ill and resigned on Sept. 15,1863 after only one year of service. He apparently returned to Connecticut and records show that in January 1879 he was appointed Brig. Gen. and Quarter Master Gen. for the state of Connecticut. Prior to the war, apparently Mr. Wessells was deputy sheriff and sheriff, a position he held from 1854-1866. He later became a representative to the General Assembly 1875-1877. Gen. Wessells was born in 1819 in Litchfield, CT. and died in Dover, DE in 1895. Also accompanying is a copy of a 2-page letter on Mr. Flayderman’s letterhead dated May 2011 wherein he describes these revolvers and in one paragraph states that Mrs. Wessells “gave them to a well known historic society in the state of Connecticut. They were retained by that society from 1912 until released by them for sale in May 1975 to a well known antique dealer in the state from whom I acquired them immediately after his acquisition at that time in May 1975…and have had them ever since”. Later in the paragraph Mr. Flayderman relates that he did not believe these revolvers were a presentation pair from Colt, but were among a group of a few guns donated to the regiment. He relates that had they been an actual presentation they would have been inscribed. Col. Wessells 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery went on to compile a fine record after he resigned, engaging a number of major battles & skirmishes. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, there were a little over 200,000 of Model 1860 revolvers produced 1860-1873. Referenced publication states “About a dozen Army revolvers are known to have been manufactured with 6″ barrels. These are in the 46000 serial range —.” PROVENANCE: Norm Flayderman Estate Collection. CONDITION: #46668. About fine, all matching except wedge which is unnumbered. Bbl retains 40-50% flaked, restored blue with the balance a mottled silver/brown patina with some fine pinprick pitting; rammer pivot & handle retain dark case colors; frame & hammer retain brilliant factory case colors, slightly faded on left recoil shield and top edge of hammer; cyl retains 30-40% thin restored blue/brown patina with stronger blue in the rebated area and four of the six safety pins serviceable; cyl shows 25-30% thin Ormsby Naval battle scene; trigger guard retains about 95% nickel; back strap & butt strap retain about 80% nickel with moderate pimpling. Grip has a chipped right heel, shows moderate edge wear with a few nicks & scratches, a couple of bruises on the right side and retains 85-90% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with scattered pitting. #46671. Fine, all matching except wedge which is unnumbered. Bbl retains 35-40% glossy factory blue with the loss areas flaked to a medium/dark patina; frame & hammer retain brilliant factory restored case colors with crisp markings; cyl retains 50-60% factory blue and shows about 50% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking and has five of the six safety pins prominent and serviceable; trigger guard retains virtually all of its orig nickel and back strap about 70% orig nickel with heavy, fine pimpling; grip is sound showing light to moderate use and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine; bright shiny bore with a few scattered small spots of pitting. 4-51162 JR154 (12,500-17,500) – Lot 2082 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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EXTREMELY RARE MATCHED BRACE OF COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS WITH 6″ BARRELS.