EXTREMELY RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT POCKET NAVY/1862 POLICE THUER CONVERSION REVOLVER.

EXTREMELY RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT POCKET NAVY/1862 POLICE THUER CONVERSION REVOLVER. SN 41331/IP. This exceptionally rare revolver is one of the series of Colt percussion revolvers converted to a central fire system designed by F. Alexander Thuer with production in six different models of Colt revolvers totaling only about 5,000 revolvers during the period 1869-72. Although the Thuer cartridge was not the first center fire ammunition produced it represents Colt’s first production center fire revolver. The cartridge utilized has an unusual tapered brass casing with small copper primer and lead bullet that loads into the cylinder from the front. Percussion cylinders were altered by having a portion of the rear section machined away with a conversion ring fitted over that extension. The conversion ring has a rebounding firing pin also has a safe mode. Most revolvers converted under the Thuer system had the right edge of their lugs altered to allow loading of the tapered cartridge and are usually accompanied by their interchangeable percussion cylinder which was one of Colt’s selling points for the conversion. Bbl lug on this revolver was not altered. Cal. 36. Silver & gold finish with 5-1/2″ rnd bbl, pin front sight with 1-line bbl address, “COLTS PATENT” on left front side of the frame and caliber marking on the left rear shoulder of the trigger guard. The SN on the four positions on the bottom of the frame, bbl lug, trigger guard & butt strap are accompanied by the initials “IP” which indicates that this revolver was factory fitted with ivory grip and factory plated. The Thuer conversion utilizes a pocket Navy 6-shot cylinder and is numbered to the revolver. The percussion cylinder, also numbered to this revolver, is a fluted 5-shot Model 1862 Police cylinder. Revolver is engraved by L.D. Nimschke with very high quality, full coverage, foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background on the frame and up over the recoil shields. The bbl has nearly full coverage matching patterns with Mr. Nimschke’s typical fan pattern at the top of the back strap. Heel of the back strap, butt strap & trigger guard are engraved to match the frame. Thuer cylinder has the stagecoach holdup scene. Percussion cylinder is engraved to match the revolver on the lands between the flutes. Revolver has silver plated brass trigger guard & back strap containing a wonderful 1-pc ivory grip. Thuer cylinder & conversion ring, hammer & rammer are gold washed while the remainder of revolver is silver plated, as is the percussion cylinder. Accompanied by a spectacular Indian rosewood, hinged lid casing with silver mounts that include corner reinforcements & swinging latches and a mortised lock in the front with two functioning keys. Interior is burgundy velvet lined, American style, compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, an orig full metal box of 36 caliber Thuer cartridges that has Kraft paper wrapping with orange & black label with and appears to be all original, a silver plated 2-cavity bullet mold without sprue cutter that is unmarked, a silver-plated Dixon bag flask, an L-shaped nipple wrench, two sets of Thuer cartridge loading tools, a small Hawksley pewter oiler, an early lacquered tin of Eley Bros. caps with orange label, an ebony bits box containing five spare screws, a packet of Colt’s combustible cartridges, four loose orig Thuer cartridges and several lead balls. Bottom of the case is covered with leather. This revolver is pictured in full color with most of the accessories on p. 116 of Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, Wilson Also accompanied by a copy of the March 2000 American Rifleman where on p. 42 & p. 45, in an article by noted Colt historian & author, R.L. Wilson, he fully illustrates in color this revolver and set of accessories as found except for the reloading tools. He states that this revolver was shipped factory plated with ivory grip and engraved by Nimschke for Schuyler, Hartley & Graham. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Revolver is very fine plus. Overall retains most of its orig silver finish to bbl, frame & grip frame with back strap somewhat thinned. Thuer conversion cyl, conversion ring, hammer & loading lever retain strong orig gold wash. Percussion cyl appears to be a cleaned bright metal color with some fine pitting. Three of its five safety pins are functional. Bullet mold & flask retain most of their fine silver plate. Loading tools retain strong blue finish. Cartridge box is sealed in plastic and shows light edge wear with some minor soil on label but appears to be completely intact. Cap tin is very fine. Case is extremely fine with a couple of minor grain checks in lid, otherwise is sound and retains virtually all of its brilliant orig finish. Interior is equally bright & new. This is certainly one of the finest Thuer conversion revolvers to be found today. 4-36495 JR132 (75,000-125,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

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
	2157	$74,750.00	EXTREMELY RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT POCKET NAVY/1862 POLICE THUER CONVERSION REVOLVER. SN 41331/IP. This exceptionally rare revolver is one of the series of Colt percussion revolvers converted to a central fire system designed by F. Alexander Thuer with production in six different models of Colt revolvers totaling only about 5,000 revolvers during the period 1869-72. Although the Thuer cartridge was not the first center fire ammunition produced it represents Colt’s first production center fire revolver. The cartridge utilized has an unusual tapered brass casing with small copper primer and lead bullet that loads into the cylinder from the front. Percussion cylinders were altered by having a portion of the rear section machined away with a conversion ring fitted over that extension. The conversion ring has a rebounding firing pin also has a safe mode. Most revolvers converted under the Thuer system had the right edge of their lugs altered to allow loading of the tapered cartridge and are usually accompanied by their interchangeable percussion cylinder which was one of Colt’s selling points for the conversion. Bbl lug on this revolver was not altered. Cal. 36. Silver & gold finish with 5-1/2″ rnd bbl, pin front sight with 1-line bbl address, “COLTS PATENT” on left front side of the frame and caliber marking on the left rear shoulder of the trigger guard. The SN on the four positions on the bottom of the frame, bbl lug, trigger guard & butt strap are accompanied by the initials “IP” which indicates that this revolver was factory fitted with ivory grip and factory plated. The Thuer conversion utilizes a pocket Navy 6-shot cylinder and is numbered to the revolver. The percussion cylinder, also numbered to this revolver, is a fluted 5-shot Model 1862 Police cylinder. Revolver is engraved by L.D. Nimschke with very high quality, full coverage, foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background on the frame and up over the recoil shields. The bbl has nearly full coverage matching patterns with Mr. Nimschke’s typical fan pattern at the top of the back strap. Heel of the back strap, butt strap & trigger guard are engraved to match the frame. Thuer cylinder has the stagecoach holdup scene. Percussion cylinder is engraved to match the revolver on the lands between the flutes. Revolver has silver plated brass trigger guard & back strap containing a wonderful 1-pc ivory grip. Thuer cylinder & conversion ring, hammer & rammer are gold washed while the remainder of revolver is silver plated, as is the percussion cylinder. Accompanied by a spectacular Indian rosewood, hinged lid casing with silver mounts that include corner reinforcements & swinging latches and a mortised lock in the front with two functioning keys. Interior is burgundy velvet lined, American style, compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, an orig full metal box of 36 caliber Thuer cartridges that has Kraft paper wrapping with orange & black label with and appears to be all original, a silver plated 2-cavity bullet mold without sprue cutter that is unmarked, a silver-plated Dixon bag flask, an L-shaped nipple wrench, two sets of Thuer cartridge loading tools, a small Hawksley pewter oiler, an early lacquered tin of Eley Bros. caps with orange label, an ebony bits box containing five spare screws, a packet of Colt’s combustible cartridges, four loose orig Thuer cartridges and several lead balls. Bottom of the case is covered with leather. This revolver is pictured in full color with most of the accessories on p. 116 of Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, Wilson Also accompanied by a copy of the March 2000 American Rifleman where on p. 42 & p. 45, in an article by noted Colt historian & author, R.L. Wilson, he fully illustrates in color this revolver and set of accessories as found except for the reloading tools. He states that this revolver was shipped factory plated with ivory grip and engraved by Nimschke for Schuyler, Hartley & Graham. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Revolver is very fine plus. Overall retains most of its orig silver finish to bbl, frame & grip frame with back strap somewhat thinned. Thuer conversion cyl, conversion ring, hammer & loading lever retain strong orig gold wash. Percussion cyl appears to be a cleaned bright metal color with some fine pitting. Three of its five safety pins are functional. Bullet mold & flask retain most of their fine silver plate. Loading tools retain strong blue finish. Cartridge box is sealed in plastic and shows light edge wear with some minor soil on label but appears to be completely intact. Cap tin is very fine. Case is extremely fine with a couple of minor grain checks in lid, otherwise is sound and retains virtually all of its brilliant orig finish. Interior is equally bright & new. This is certainly one of the finest Thuer conversion revolvers to be found today. 4-36495 JR132 (75,000-125,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 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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