VERY RARE CASED SHORT FRAME COLT WELLS FARGO MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

SN 55650. Cal. 31. Very rare short frame Wells Fargo ’49 with 3″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 2-line New York City address with brackets. Bbl is made without rammer and is probably from left over Baby Dragoon parts. Left side of frame has a tiny “COLTS PATENT”. Cyl has stagecoach hold-up scene roll marking with five chambers. Cyl spindle is 2/-1/2″ with a cupped end for use as a loading tool and without grease grooves. The small guard silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with faintly visible, only under bright light, last four digits of matching SN. Accompanied by an extremely rare burgundy velvet lined Colt casing, compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a small brass 2-sided eagle & stars flask, a brass 2-cavity “COLTS PATENT” mold without sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench, a lacquered tin of Eley’s caps and a functioning key. According to the book COLT’S POCKET ’49 IT’S EVOLUTION, Jordan & Watt, it is estimated that only about 2,200 short frame Wells Fargo revolvers were ever produced and fewer than twenty were cased. The chart on p.63 of referenced publication shows that only an estimated 1,450 of the estimated 2,200 produced had long triggers as found on this revolver. PROVENANCE: Collection of John Montague. CONDITION: Fine, all matching including wedge, cyl & grip. Overall retains a smooth dark grey metal patina with traces of smoky case colors on the frame. Trigger guard & backstrap retains about 85% orig silver plating, strong on the front strap, thinning on the backstrap. Grip has a chipped left toe with battering on the bottom edges, showing light to moderate edge wear and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine; strong bore with moderate pitting. Case has a grain check in the lid and a couple in the bottom with light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish; interior is heavily faded with light soil and spots of staining in the lid lining and heavily soiled in the bottom; partitions are solid; flask retains traces of orig finish being mostly a smooth brass patina; mold shows draw filed body with evidence of battering, inside & out; nipple wrench, probably a more modern replacement, is very fine; cap tin is fine. All together a very rare and seldom encountered cased revolver. 4-53757 JR156 (3,000-5,000) – Lot 3032

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
	3032	$6,900.00	VERY RARE CASED SHORT FRAME COLT WELLS FARGO MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 55650. Cal. 31. Very rare short frame Wells Fargo ’49 with 3″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 2-line New York City address with brackets. Bbl is made without rammer and is probably from left over Baby Dragoon parts. Left side of frame has a tiny “COLTS PATENT”. Cyl has stagecoach hold-up scene roll marking with five chambers. Cyl spindle is 2/-1/2″ with a cupped end for use as a loading tool and without grease grooves. The small guard silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with faintly visible, only under bright light, last four digits of matching SN. Accompanied by an extremely rare burgundy velvet lined Colt casing, compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a small brass 2-sided eagle & stars flask, a brass 2-cavity “COLTS PATENT” mold without sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench, a lacquered tin of Eley’s caps and a functioning key. According to the book COLT’S POCKET ’49 IT’S EVOLUTION, Jordan & Watt, it is estimated that only about 2,200 short frame Wells Fargo revolvers were ever produced and fewer than twenty were cased. The chart on p.63 of referenced publication shows that only an estimated 1,450 of the estimated 2,200 produced had long triggers as found on this revolver. PROVENANCE: Collection of John Montague. CONDITION: Fine, all matching including wedge, cyl & grip. Overall retains a smooth dark grey metal patina with traces of smoky case colors on the frame. Trigger guard & backstrap retains about 85% orig silver plating, strong on the front strap, thinning on the backstrap. Grip has a chipped left toe with battering on the bottom edges, showing light to moderate edge wear and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine; strong bore with moderate pitting. Case has a grain check in the lid and a couple in the bottom with light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish; interior is heavily faded with light soil and spots of staining in the lid lining and heavily soiled in the bottom; partitions are solid; flask retains traces of orig finish being mostly a smooth brass patina; mold shows draw filed body with evidence of battering, inside & out; nipple wrench, probably a more modern replacement, is very fine; cap tin is fine. All together a very rare and seldom encountered cased revolver. 4-53757 JR156 (3,000-5,000) – Lot 3032 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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VERY RARE CASED SHORT FRAME COLT WELLS FARGO MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER.