EXTREMELY RARE HISTORIC & IMPORTANT COL. COLT PRESENTATION CASED ENGRAVED MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, PRESENTED TO U.S. NAVY PURSER L.D. SLAMM.

SN 8786. Cal 36. This particular gun is among the earliest personal presentations of Col. Colts. R.L. Wilson on pgs 60-61 Colt Engraving Book, Vol. I “Cased, engraved and presentation-inscribed to Purser Levi D. Slamm, U.S.N., from a grateful Samuel Colt. Model 1851 Navy Number 8786/. is one of the most historic of presentations from the inventor. Slamm assisted Colt with the first model of the revolver, while on board ship, c. 1830-31. Inscribed on the backstrap and rosewood case plaque, as pictured. The inscription on the case lid plaque done in Gustave Young script, whereas the backstrap inscription was done in a style used by the shop which was responsible for the donut scroll.” Fine engraved model ’51 Navy, blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line New York City address. The silver plated brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a very nicely figured, varnished 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN in backstrap channel. Cyl is unfluted with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking & all 6 safety pins crisp & serviceable. Revolver is very nicely engraved in early large donut style with full coverage on the frame. Left front of frame is engraved “COLTS PATENT” and a short ribbon. Screw heads and tips are also all engraved. Engraving extends over the bbl lug & top side flats and down onto the rammer pivot. Backstrap & buttstrap are engraved to match with a fan pattern at the top similar to engraving by Gustave Young but probably by his predecessor at Colt. Trigger guard is engraved in the rare pattern of a shield, also with large scrolls. Backstrap is very nicely engraved in same hand with inscription “PURSER SLAMM / U.S.N./FROM Sam Colt”. Hammer is also engraved with the early style wolf’s head on each side of the nose & fish scale patterns on top edge & sides of spur. All the SNs on the bottom are accompanied by a small punched dot which would have signified to the factory workmen that this revolver was to receive extra attention to finish for engraving. Accompanied by its orig burgundy velvet lined Colt, rosewood casing with brass plaque in the lid that appears to have been engraved from the hand of Gustave Young, “L.D. Slamm Esqre / Purser U.S.N. / Compliments of / Col Colt”. Interior is compartmented for the revolver, a double-sided “COLTS PATENT” trophy of arms & flags, Navy size flask with angled spout, a brass “COLTS PATENT” bullet & ball mold with sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench, a full sealed packet & an open empty packet of Colt’s Cartridge Works combustible cartridges and a lacquered tin for Eley’s caps. Additionally accompanied by a 3-pg typewritten letter signed by L.D. Slamm’s grandson Hugh Morsell Mitchell of Jamestown, N.Y. dated November 12, 1932, with its original envelope addressed to Mr. Charles P. Day of New York City, an early American arms collector. Mr. Mitchell states in the body of the letter that he is the grandson of Purser Slamm and that Mr. Slamm had been a close friend of Samuel Colt. Apparently young Sam Colt served under Purser Slamm as a Cabin Boy on the Brig Corvo 1830-1831 from Boston to Calcutta and back. It was during this voyage that the 16-year-old Sam Colt carved the famous wooden pattern that was to become the genesis for the Colt dynasty. Apparently Mr. Colt never forgot Mr. Slamm and remained in contact with him long after Mr. Colt had become successful and Mr. Slamm had received his commission in the U.S. Navy in 1846. This revolver was manufactured in 1851 and likely presented to Purser Slamm shortly thereafter. Levi D. Slamm was born in 1812 the son of a Revolutionary War Veteran and lineage to “Light Horse” Harry Lee. In 1846 he was appointed purser in the U.S. Navy. He died in October 1862 the result of an accident while boarding a ship in Montevideo. Also accompanied by an 8-pg letter from well-known author and Colt historian R.L. Wilson wherein he documents much of the above information. Additionally accompanied by copy of the Summer 1996 issue of The Rampant Colt (the magazine of the Colt Collector’s Assoc.) which contains a 2-pg article by Greg Martin regarding this revolver with photographs of the revolver. There are a number of examples of early engraved Colts and even a few of those with Colt presentations, many of which are extremely important. However, that having been said, few rise to the importance of this presentation. Undoubtedly Samuel Colt, as a 16-year-old on a world class adventure, was probably befriended and mentored by Mr. Slamm on that voyage to India. Samuel Colt reportedly never forgot those who befriended him or helped him along the way. Such is epitomized by this presentation as it is unlikely an ordinary purser, a somewhat minor personality in the U.S. Navy, would have otherwise come to Colt’s attention such as his typical presentations that would benefit him financially to generals, presidents & royalty. Pg 60, Wilson “One of the most important historically of all presentations from Samuel Colt.” PROVENANCE: L.D. Slamm 1852; Hugh Morsell Mitchell, grandson; Charles P. Day, NYC 1932; James R. Lowensteine, Chicago 1941; Pg 50 “Colts History & Heroes”, by John Hamilton 1963; Pages 60-61 & front end paper Wilson “The Colt Engraving Book, Vol. I”; Lot 959 July 24, 1996, Butterfield & Butterfield, SF. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching including rammer, wedge, cyl and grip. Bbl retains about 70% glossy orig blue with loss areas lightly cleaned. Rammer, pivot & handle are cleaned to bright metal. Frame & hammer are also cleaned bright metal patina. Cyl is also cleaned to bright metal with one area of very fine pitting, probably from laying in the case and cyl shows about 85-90% Ormsby Naval Battle scene roll marking with completely legible Ormsby signature. Trigger guard and backstrap retain virtually all of their orig silver finish with only slight sharp edge wear. Grip shows very little wear with a few light nicks & scratches and retains about 99% crisp orig varnish. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore with a very few small spots of pitting. Case has a grain check in the lid and a couple of others in the bottom with a gouge in the lid and a few light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish. Bottom retains about 85% orig oilcloth covering. Interior is moderately faded inside the lid with chemical staining from contact with the cyl. Bottom is less faded with moderate soil and damage from the front sight & hammer spur. Flask has had its spout soldered at the angle joint and shows traces of orig finish, being a dark patina. Mold has bent arms with light battering over 3 sides and cleaned sprue cutter with crisp cavities. Nipple wrench & cap tin are fine. Sealed cartridge packet is crisp and the open packet is fine. A rare set worthy of any collection or museum. 50140-4 JS105 (75,000-125,000) – Lot 2163

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Auction: Firearms - March 2016

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
	2163	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE HISTORIC & IMPORTANT COL. COLT PRESENTATION CASED ENGRAVED MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, PRESENTED TO U.S. NAVY PURSER L.D. SLAMM. SN 8786. Cal 36. This particular gun is among the earliest personal presentations of Col. Colts. R.L. Wilson on pgs 60-61 Colt Engraving Book, Vol. I “Cased, engraved and presentation-inscribed to Purser Levi D. Slamm, U.S.N., from a grateful Samuel Colt. Model 1851 Navy Number 8786/. is one of the most historic of presentations from the inventor. Slamm assisted Colt with the first model of the revolver, while on board ship, c. 1830-31. Inscribed on the backstrap and rosewood case plaque, as pictured. The inscription on the case lid plaque done in Gustave Young script, whereas the backstrap inscription was done in a style used by the shop which was responsible for the donut scroll.” Fine engraved model ’51 Navy, blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line New York City address. The silver plated brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a very nicely figured, varnished 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN in backstrap channel. Cyl is unfluted with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking & all 6 safety pins crisp & serviceable. Revolver is very nicely engraved in early large donut style with full coverage on the frame. Left front of frame is engraved “COLTS PATENT” and a short ribbon. Screw heads and tips are also all engraved. Engraving extends over the bbl lug & top side flats and down onto the rammer pivot. Backstrap & buttstrap are engraved to match with a fan pattern at the top similar to engraving by Gustave Young but probably by his predecessor at Colt. Trigger guard is engraved in the rare pattern of a shield, also with large scrolls. Backstrap is very nicely engraved in same hand with inscription “PURSER SLAMM / U.S.N./FROM Sam Colt”. Hammer is also engraved with the early style wolf’s head on each side of the nose & fish scale patterns on top edge & sides of spur. All the SNs on the bottom are accompanied by a small punched dot which would have signified to the factory workmen that this revolver was to receive extra attention to finish for engraving. Accompanied by its orig burgundy velvet lined Colt, rosewood casing with brass plaque in the lid that appears to have been engraved from the hand of Gustave Young, “L.D. Slamm Esqre / Purser U.S.N. / Compliments of / Col Colt”. Interior is compartmented for the revolver, a double-sided “COLTS PATENT” trophy of arms & flags, Navy size flask with angled spout, a brass “COLTS PATENT” bullet & ball mold with sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench, a full sealed packet & an open empty packet of Colt’s Cartridge Works combustible cartridges and a lacquered tin for Eley’s caps. Additionally accompanied by a 3-pg typewritten letter signed by L.D. Slamm’s grandson Hugh Morsell Mitchell of Jamestown, N.Y. dated November 12, 1932, with its original envelope addressed to Mr. Charles P. Day of New York City, an early American arms collector. Mr. Mitchell states in the body of the letter that he is the grandson of Purser Slamm and that Mr. Slamm had been a close friend of Samuel Colt. Apparently young Sam Colt served under Purser Slamm as a Cabin Boy on the Brig Corvo 1830-1831 from Boston to Calcutta and back. It was during this voyage that the 16-year-old Sam Colt carved the famous wooden pattern that was to become the genesis for the Colt dynasty. Apparently Mr. Colt never forgot Mr. Slamm and remained in contact with him long after Mr. Colt had become successful and Mr. Slamm had received his commission in the U.S. Navy in 1846. This revolver was manufactured in 1851 and likely presented to Purser Slamm shortly thereafter. Levi D. Slamm was born in 1812 the son of a Revolutionary War Veteran and lineage to “Light Horse” Harry Lee. In 1846 he was appointed purser in the U.S. Navy. He died in October 1862 the result of an accident while boarding a ship in Montevideo. Also accompanied by an 8-pg letter from well-known author and Colt historian R.L. Wilson wherein he documents much of the above information. Additionally accompanied by copy of the Summer 1996 issue of The Rampant Colt (the magazine of the Colt Collector’s Assoc.) which contains a 2-pg article by Greg Martin regarding this revolver with photographs of the revolver. There are a number of examples of early engraved Colts and even a few of those with Colt presentations, many of which are extremely important. However, that having been said, few rise to the importance of this presentation. Undoubtedly Samuel Colt, as a 16-year-old on a world class adventure, was probably befriended and mentored by Mr. Slamm on that voyage to India. Samuel Colt reportedly never forgot those who befriended him or helped him along the way. Such is epitomized by this presentation as it is unlikely an ordinary purser, a somewhat minor personality in the U.S. Navy, would have otherwise come to Colt’s attention such as his typical presentations that would benefit him financially to generals, presidents & royalty. Pg 60, Wilson “One of the most important historically of all presentations from Samuel Colt.” PROVENANCE: L.D. Slamm 1852; Hugh Morsell Mitchell, grandson; Charles P. Day, NYC 1932; James R. Lowensteine, Chicago 1941; Pg 50 “Colts History & Heroes”, by John Hamilton 1963; Pages 60-61 & front end paper Wilson “The Colt Engraving Book, Vol. I”; Lot 959 July 24, 1996, Butterfield & Butterfield, SF. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching including rammer, wedge, cyl and grip. Bbl retains about 70% glossy orig blue with loss areas lightly cleaned. Rammer, pivot & handle are cleaned to bright metal. Frame & hammer are also cleaned bright metal patina. Cyl is also cleaned to bright metal with one area of very fine pitting, probably from laying in the case and cyl shows about 85-90% Ormsby Naval Battle scene roll marking with completely legible Ormsby signature. Trigger guard and backstrap retain virtually all of their orig silver finish with only slight sharp edge wear. Grip shows very little wear with a few light nicks & scratches and retains about 99% crisp orig varnish. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore with a very few small spots of pitting. Case has a grain check in the lid and a couple of others in the bottom with a gouge in the lid and a few light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish. Bottom retains about 85% orig oilcloth covering. Interior is moderately faded inside the lid with chemical staining from contact with the cyl. Bottom is less faded with moderate soil and damage from the front sight & hammer spur. Flask has had its spout soldered at the angle joint and shows traces of orig finish, being a dark patina. Mold has bent arms with light battering over 3 sides and cleaned sprue cutter with crisp cavities. Nipple wrench & cap tin are fine. Sealed cartridge packet is crisp and the open packet is fine. A rare set worthy of any collection or museum. 50140-4 JS105 (75,000-125,000) – Lot 2163 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2016 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 HISTORIC & IMPORTANT COL. COLT PRESENTATION CASED ENGRAVED MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, PRESENTED TO U.S. NAVY PURSER L.D. SLAMM.