Revised: 10/2/2014

Please note: A gun historian has contacted us noting that guns with these markings and in this serial number range were distributed to the Rhode Island Militia prior to the Civil War, so this presents two trains of thought regarding thie inscription. We sell these guns with the understanding that it could be either.

RARE DOUBLE CASED BRACE OF COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS INSCRIBED TO A CONFEDERATE GENERAL.

SN 44250/44871. Cal 36. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ oct bbls, brass pin front sights and 1-line New York City address with dashes. Left side of frames have a small “COLTS PATENT”. Cylinders are usual 6 chambers, unfluted with Ormsby Naval Battle Scene roll marking. The large guard iron trigger guards and backstraps contain 1-pc walnut grip with number 44871 having last 3-digits of matching SN visible in backstrap channel. Grip on number 44250 is without a number. Backstrap of number 44871 is engraved in period block letters, “MAJOR 8TH REGT.”. Backstrap of number 44250 has had an inscription obliterated during the period of use and the buttstrap cleaned, almost completely obliterating the SN. Accompanied by a fantastic, orig, brown velvet lined rosewood Colt casing with brass plaque in the lid inscribed identical to the backstrap of number 44871. Interior is compartmented for the two revolvers an angle spout, double sided panoply of arms & flags, eagle & stars flask, a blued “COLT’S PATENT” mold with sprue cutter, marked on right side “36B”, an L-shaped nipple wrench, two lacquered cap tins, one with label, one without and a packet of 5 combustible cartridges. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson these revolvers were produced in 1855 in a serial range that indicates that they were in the 3rd model series but have the 4th model style large iron trigger guards. It is likely that these revolvers were part of an order from the US Government for 16,962 model 1851 revolvers delivered between May 2, 1855 and November 3, 1859. Accompanying this lot is a large volume of research material relating to James Patrick Major (1836-1877). Major entered West Point in July 1852 and graduated 23rd in the class of 1856. He was brevetted 2nd Lt. in the 1st US Cavalry and served a year at Carlisle Barracks, PA before being promoted to 2nd Lt. in Co. K of the 2nd US Cavalry and sent to duty on the Texas frontier. He was engaged in fighting the Comanche and in 1858 was cited for conspicuous gallantry at the Battle of Wichita Village. In March 1861 he resigned from the US Army and enlisted in the Confederate Army as a Lt. Col. of the Missouri State Guard. He fought in several battles throughout the trans-Mississippi theatre and was promoted to Brigadier General in July 1863. He commanded the defense at Galveston and played a key role in the Red River Campaign of 1864. By the end of the war he had been promoted to Major General. After the war he was paroled in Louisiana and in 1865 went to France then returned to Louisiana and died while on business in Austin, TX May, 1877. During most of the Civil War Major commanded cavalry regiments to good effect. CONDITION: Number 44871. Fine, all matching including rammer, wedge, cyl and grip. Bbl retains a mixed blue/brown patina with light scattered pin prick pitting. Flaked areas are a dark patina. Frame retains most of a restored finish which nearly obliterated “COLTS PATENT” on the left side. Trigger guard and backstrap are also a smooth, dark patina. Cyl is matching patina with areas of rust on opposite sides and shows 50-60% Ormsby Naval Battle Scene roll marking. Grip is sound showing light to moderate edge wear with a few nicks and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine. Strong bore with good shine and moderate pitting. Number 44250. All matching except grip, as noted. Buttstrap number is nearly obliterated along with what was probably an inscription and now only a “3” is visible. Backstrap inscription has been obliterated. Bbl retains a plummy, brown patina with scattered, light surface rust. Rammer handle has a blued finish turning plum. Frame also has a blued finish turning plum/brown with a nearly obliterated “COLTS PATENT”. Cyl is a gray/brown metal patina with scattered spots of surface rust and shows about 75% Ormsby Navel Battle Scene roll marking and has 5 of the 6 safety pins serviceable. Trigger guard and backstrap are a gray metal patina. Grip is sound showing moderate to heavy edge wear and retains a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine. Bright, shiny bore. Case has a crack and several small grain checks in the top & in the bottom and overall retains most of a an old restored finish. Interior is lightly faded with moderate to heavy soil from contact with the revolvers and implements. Flask has one small dent near the collar and shows a dark, brass patina. Mold is heavily battered on both sides and retains about 50% orig blue. Other accessories are fine. 4-54297 JR291 (10,000-15,000) – Lot 3038

Click here to view provenance

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	3038	$25,875.00	Revised: 10/2/2014 Please note: A gun historian has contacted us noting that guns with these markings and in this serial number range were distributed to the Rhode Island Militia prior to the Civil War, so this presents two trains of thought regarding thie inscription. We sell these guns with the understanding that it could be either. RARE DOUBLE CASED BRACE OF COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS INSCRIBED TO A CONFEDERATE GENERAL. SN 44250/44871. Cal 36. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ oct bbls, brass pin front sights and 1-line New York City address with dashes. Left side of frames have a small “COLTS PATENT”. Cylinders are usual 6 chambers, unfluted with Ormsby Naval Battle Scene roll marking. The large guard iron trigger guards and backstraps contain 1-pc walnut grip with number 44871 having last 3-digits of matching SN visible in backstrap channel. Grip on number 44250 is without a number. Backstrap of number 44871 is engraved in period block letters, “MAJOR 8TH REGT.”. Backstrap of number 44250 has had an inscription obliterated during the period of use and the buttstrap cleaned, almost completely obliterating the SN. Accompanied by a fantastic, orig, brown velvet lined rosewood Colt casing with brass plaque in the lid inscribed identical to the backstrap of number 44871. Interior is compartmented for the two revolvers an angle spout, double sided panoply of arms & flags, eagle & stars flask, a blued “COLT’S PATENT” mold with sprue cutter, marked on right side “36B”, an L-shaped nipple wrench, two lacquered cap tins, one with label, one without and a packet of 5 combustible cartridges. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson these revolvers were produced in 1855 in a serial range that indicates that they were in the 3rd model series but have the 4th model style large iron trigger guards. It is likely that these revolvers were part of an order from the US Government for 16,962 model 1851 revolvers delivered between May 2, 1855 and November 3, 1859. Accompanying this lot is a large volume of research material relating to James Patrick Major (1836-1877). Major entered West Point in July 1852 and graduated 23rd in the class of 1856. He was brevetted 2nd Lt. in the 1st US Cavalry and served a year at Carlisle Barracks, PA before being promoted to 2nd Lt. in Co. K of the 2nd US Cavalry and sent to duty on the Texas frontier. He was engaged in fighting the Comanche and in 1858 was cited for conspicuous gallantry at the Battle of Wichita Village. In March 1861 he resigned from the US Army and enlisted in the Confederate Army as a Lt. Col. of the Missouri State Guard. He fought in several battles throughout the trans-Mississippi theatre and was promoted to Brigadier General in July 1863. He commanded the defense at Galveston and played a key role in the Red River Campaign of 1864. By the end of the war he had been promoted to Major General. After the war he was paroled in Louisiana and in 1865 went to France then returned to Louisiana and died while on business in Austin, TX May, 1877. During most of the Civil War Major commanded cavalry regiments to good effect. CONDITION: Number 44871. Fine, all matching including rammer, wedge, cyl and grip. Bbl retains a mixed blue/brown patina with light scattered pin prick pitting. Flaked areas are a dark patina. Frame retains most of a restored finish which nearly obliterated “COLTS PATENT” on the left side. Trigger guard and backstrap are also a smooth, dark patina. Cyl is matching patina with areas of rust on opposite sides and shows 50-60% Ormsby Naval Battle Scene roll marking. Grip is sound showing light to moderate edge wear with a few nicks and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine. Strong bore with good shine and moderate pitting. Number 44250. All matching except grip, as noted. Buttstrap number is nearly obliterated along with what was probably an inscription and now only a “3” is visible. Backstrap inscription has been obliterated. Bbl retains a plummy, brown patina with scattered, light surface rust. Rammer handle has a blued finish turning plum. Frame also has a blued finish turning plum/brown with a nearly obliterated “COLTS PATENT”. Cyl is a gray/brown metal patina with scattered spots of surface rust and shows about 75% Ormsby Navel Battle Scene roll marking and has 5 of the 6 safety pins serviceable. Trigger guard and backstrap are a gray metal patina. Grip is sound showing moderate to heavy edge wear and retains a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine. Bright, shiny bore. Case has a crack and several small grain checks in the top & in the bottom and overall retains most of a an old restored finish. Interior is lightly faded with moderate to heavy soil from contact with the revolvers and implements. Flask has one small dent near the collar and shows a dark, brass patina. Mold is heavily battered on both sides and retains about 50% orig blue. Other accessories are fine. 4-54297 JR291 (10,000-15,000) – Lot 3038 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 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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RARE DOUBLE CASED BRACE OF COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS INSCRIBED TO A CONFEDERATE GENERAL.