EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1849 WELLS FARGO POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER WITH 4″ BARREL.

EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1849 WELLS FARGO POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER WITH 4″ BARREL. SN 15638. Cal. 31. Very rare “Wells Fargo” with 4″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 2-line New York City address with dashes. Left side of frame has a tiny “COLTS PATENT” and the small guard silver plated brass trigger guard & back strap contain a 1-pc burl walnut grip with SN in back strap channel. Cylinder is usual 5-shots with rolled stagecoach holdup scene and the remains of the five safety pins. Cylinder is mismatched and bears SN 15619. Cylinder arbor is without grease grooves and has a dimpled end to be used as a rammer for loading the cylinder. There is a substantial amount of correspondence which accompanies this revolver, mostly between the consignor and several other collectors and authors, all regarding 4″ Wells Fargo pocket models. During consignor’s research which dates back to May 1978 he discovered that another 4″ Wells Fargo, SN 15619, had been described, along with this revolver, in a book Colt’s Variations of the Old Model Pocket Pistol, Shumaker, and that somewhere in history the cylinders of these two revolvers had been switched, with both revolvers with their mismatched cylinders noted in the book. Consignor contacted Mr. Shumaker to try to learn the identity of the owner of the other revolver but Mr. Shumaker was unable to provide any helpful information beyond the fact that revolver #15619 had been submitted by the famous Colt collector William M. Locke. Unfortunately by the time this information had been learned Mr. Locke was long deceased. A quick check of The Wm M. Locke Collection book by Sellers did not disclose a listing for #15619. Should anyone reading this description have knowledge of the location of revolver #15619 the Julia Auction Company would be happy to act as honest broker to reunite the cylinders to their proper frames. PROVENANCE: Dr. Robert A. Bettis Collection; Harland Pringle Collection (founding member Texas Gun Collector’s Assn.);Leon (Red) Jackson (also founder of TGCA). CONDITION: Very good, all matching except wedge (#6675) and cylinder as noted above. No orig finish remains being a smooth dark plummy/brown patina with muzzle & sharp edge wear on bbl. Frame is more a blue/gray patina with an area of pitting on left lower rear edge. Cylinder is a gray/brown patina with a couple of minor nicks on front edge and overall retains 60-70% stagecoach holdup scene. Trigger guard & back strap retain 75-80% orig silver plating with exposed areas a medium mustard patina. Grip has a chipped left toe with a fe minor nicks & scratches and retains about 50% orig varnish mixed with hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with good rifling and moderate pitting. 4-39302 JR163 (6,000-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	2249	$5,175.00	EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1849 WELLS FARGO POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER WITH 4″ BARREL. SN 15638. Cal. 31. Very rare “Wells Fargo” with 4″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 2-line New York City address with dashes. Left side of frame has a tiny “COLTS PATENT” and the small guard silver plated brass trigger guard & back strap contain a 1-pc burl walnut grip with SN in back strap channel. Cylinder is usual 5-shots with rolled stagecoach holdup scene and the remains of the five safety pins. Cylinder is mismatched and bears SN 15619. Cylinder arbor is without grease grooves and has a dimpled end to be used as a rammer for loading the cylinder. There is a substantial amount of correspondence which accompanies this revolver, mostly between the consignor and several other collectors and authors, all regarding 4″ Wells Fargo pocket models. During consignor’s research which dates back to May 1978 he discovered that another 4″ Wells Fargo, SN 15619, had been described, along with this revolver, in a book Colt’s Variations of the Old Model Pocket Pistol, Shumaker, and that somewhere in history the cylinders of these two revolvers had been switched, with both revolvers with their mismatched cylinders noted in the book. Consignor contacted Mr. Shumaker to try to learn the identity of the owner of the other revolver but Mr. Shumaker was unable to provide any helpful information beyond the fact that revolver #15619 had been submitted by the famous Colt collector William M. Locke. Unfortunately by the time this information had been learned Mr. Locke was long deceased. A quick check of The Wm M. Locke Collection book by Sellers did not disclose a listing for #15619. Should anyone reading this description have knowledge of the location of revolver #15619 the Julia Auction Company would be happy to act as honest broker to reunite the cylinders to their proper frames. PROVENANCE: Dr. Robert A. Bettis Collection; Harland Pringle Collection (founding member Texas Gun Collector’s Assn.);Leon (Red) Jackson (also founder of TGCA). CONDITION: Very good, all matching except wedge (#6675) and cylinder as noted above. No orig finish remains being a smooth dark plummy/brown patina with muzzle & sharp edge wear on bbl. Frame is more a blue/gray patina with an area of pitting on left lower rear edge. Cylinder is a gray/brown patina with a couple of minor nicks on front edge and overall retains 60-70% stagecoach holdup scene. Trigger guard & back strap retain 75-80% orig silver plating with exposed areas a medium mustard patina. Grip has a chipped left toe with a fe minor nicks & scratches and retains about 50% orig varnish mixed with hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with good rifling and moderate pitting. 4-39302 JR163 (6,000-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}