EXTRAORDINARY RARE PRESENTATION DOUBLE CASED SET OF COLT 1860 ARMY AND 1861 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS PRESENTED TO GENERAL WILLIAM A. THORNTON BY COL. COLT.

SN 11682, 1822. Both revolvers have a period engraved inscription on backstraps “Col. W. A. Thornton / with Compliments of Col. Colt”. Both revolvers are blue and color case hardened with deluxe 1-pc varnished walnut grip. Accompanied by their spectacular, orig, purple velvet lined, brass bound walnut casing with empty brass plaque in the lid. Corners have mortised brass reinforcements and its has English style sliding latches in the front with a mortised brass lock and large escutcheon. Interior is compartmented for both revolvers, a sgl sided, angle spout, “COLTS PATENT”, trophy of flags & arms, Army sized and Navy sized flasks, blued “COLTS PATENT” bullet molds with sprue cutters in both 36 & 44 cal, an L-shaped nipple wrench and a tin of Eley’s caps. Left front corner has a small tube of spare parts and a functioning key. Col. William A. Thornton, later Brigadier General Thornton, graduated West Point in 1825 and became Captain of Ordnance in 1838. Over 41 years of service he commanded Ordnance depots at New York, Watervliet and St. Louis and was chief inspector for Military Arms at Springfield beginning with the Paterson revolver and continuing through the Dragoon series. There were many sub-inspectors who worked for him until 1861. General Thornton was highly regarded and very ingenious and was instrumental in the development of the Dragoon models of Colt revolvers. He died in 1866. It is evident that Sam Colt regarded General Thornton very highly or at least wished to influence his decision making with this presentation. According to preeminent Colt Historian & author R. L. Wilson there were only a very few dbl case sets, such as this one, presented by Col. Colt in late 1861. Several of them are know today, with this one being one of the most important. 1) Model 1860 Army. Serial number 11682. Cal. 44. Blue and color case hardened with 8″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has small “COLTS PATENT” and left shoulder trigger guard is marked “44 CAL”. Frame is 4-screw type, cut for shoulder stock with flat head hammer screw. The silver plated brass trigger guard and blued steel backstrap contains a highly figured 1-pc walnut grip with last 4-digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. 2) Model 1861 Navy. Serial Number 1822. Cal 36. Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has a tiny “COLTS PATENT”, and left shoulder trigger guard is marked “36 CAL”. Cyl has usual 6-chambers with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. The silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a highly figured 1-pc varnished walnut grip with matching serial number in backstrap channel. This double cased set of revolvers was part of a special grouping of approx. 60 special revolvers consisting of several double-double and even fewer double cased sets given by Colonel Colt to select military dignitaries as “Presents to Officers” in late 1861. Lot is accompanied by an original handwritten letter to Col S. Colt dated 1/23/1860 from Thornton requesting a quantity of pistol barrels be sent to affect repairs at the New York Arsenal, and signed W.A.T. PROVENANCE: Ex-William Gerber Family Collection; The Esteemed Collection of Steve Ardia. CONDITION: 1) Very fine, all matching including wedge, cyl & grip. Bbl retains about 75% orig blue mixed with dark brown patina; rammer handle retains about 95% orig case colors, brilliant on the pivot; frame and hammer retain about 90% orig case colors, strong & bright on the sides, turned a little dark on recoil shields and edge of hammer, showing light wear on left recoil shield; cyl retains about 50-60% thin orig blue and shows about 75% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore with a couple small spots of pitting. 2) Very fine, all matching including wedge, cyl & grip. Bbl retains 75-80% orig blue, strong & bright in sheltered areas, mixed with light patina elsewhere; rammer and handle retain most of their orig case colors, brilliant on pivot; frame and hammer retain about 90% orig case colors, lightly to moderately faded; cyl retains about 50-60% orig blue with balance a brown patina and shows about 80% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking; trigger guard and backstrap retain about 98% strong orig silver; grip is sound with a few nicks in the edges and retains about 93-95% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with 3 or 4 small spots of pitting. Case has a couple grain checks in the lid and couple more in the bottom with usual handling and storage nicks & scratches and retains 95-96% strong orig varnish; interior is very lightly faded in the lid with some light staining from revolvers and implements, bottom is moderately faded showing wear from the front sights and hammer spurs with light soil; flasks are very fine with the Army model retaining about 93-95% orig finish with one small dent on the back side; Navy model also has a sgl dent and retains about 95-98% orig finish; molds and other accessories are fine. This is an extraordinary rare set. 49631-50 (175,000-275,000) – Lot 4210

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Auction: Firearms - October 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
	4210	$0.00	EXTRAORDINARY RARE PRESENTATION DOUBLE CASED SET OF COLT 1860 ARMY AND 1861 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS PRESENTED TO GENERAL WILLIAM A. THORNTON BY COL. COLT. SN 11682, 1822. Both revolvers have a period engraved inscription on backstraps “Col. W. A. Thornton / with Compliments of Col. Colt”. Both revolvers are blue and color case hardened with deluxe 1-pc varnished walnut grip. Accompanied by their spectacular, orig, purple velvet lined, brass bound walnut casing with empty brass plaque in the lid. Corners have mortised brass reinforcements and its has English style sliding latches in the front with a mortised brass lock and large escutcheon. Interior is compartmented for both revolvers, a sgl sided, angle spout, “COLTS PATENT”, trophy of flags & arms, Army sized and Navy sized flasks, blued “COLTS PATENT” bullet molds with sprue cutters in both 36 & 44 cal, an L-shaped nipple wrench and a tin of Eley’s caps. Left front corner has a small tube of spare parts and a functioning key. Col. William A. Thornton, later Brigadier General Thornton, graduated West Point in 1825 and became Captain of Ordnance in 1838. Over 41 years of service he commanded Ordnance depots at New York, Watervliet and St. Louis and was chief inspector for Military Arms at Springfield beginning with the Paterson revolver and continuing through the Dragoon series. There were many sub-inspectors who worked for him until 1861. General Thornton was highly regarded and very ingenious and was instrumental in the development of the Dragoon models of Colt revolvers. He died in 1866. It is evident that Sam Colt regarded General Thornton very highly or at least wished to influence his decision making with this presentation. According to preeminent Colt Historian & author R. L. Wilson there were only a very few dbl case sets, such as this one, presented by Col. Colt in late 1861. Several of them are know today, with this one being one of the most important. 1) Model 1860 Army. Serial number 11682. Cal. 44. Blue and color case hardened with 8″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has small “COLTS PATENT” and left shoulder trigger guard is marked “44 CAL”. Frame is 4-screw type, cut for shoulder stock with flat head hammer screw. The silver plated brass trigger guard and blued steel backstrap contains a highly figured 1-pc walnut grip with last 4-digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. 2) Model 1861 Navy. Serial Number 1822. Cal 36. Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has a tiny “COLTS PATENT”, and left shoulder trigger guard is marked “36 CAL”. Cyl has usual 6-chambers with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. The silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a highly figured 1-pc varnished walnut grip with matching serial number in backstrap channel. This double cased set of revolvers was part of a special grouping of approx. 60 special revolvers consisting of several double-double and even fewer double cased sets given by Colonel Colt to select military dignitaries as “Presents to Officers” in late 1861. Lot is accompanied by an original handwritten letter to Col S. Colt dated 1/23/1860 from Thornton requesting a quantity of pistol barrels be sent to affect repairs at the New York Arsenal, and signed W.A.T. PROVENANCE: Ex-William Gerber Family Collection; The Esteemed Collection of Steve Ardia. CONDITION: 1) Very fine, all matching including wedge, cyl & grip. Bbl retains about 75% orig blue mixed with dark brown patina; rammer handle retains about 95% orig case colors, brilliant on the pivot; frame and hammer retain about 90% orig case colors, strong & bright on the sides, turned a little dark on recoil shields and edge of hammer, showing light wear on left recoil shield; cyl retains about 50-60% thin orig blue and shows about 75% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore with a couple small spots of pitting. 2) Very fine, all matching including wedge, cyl & grip. Bbl retains 75-80% orig blue, strong & bright in sheltered areas, mixed with light patina elsewhere; rammer and handle retain most of their orig case colors, brilliant on pivot; frame and hammer retain about 90% orig case colors, lightly to moderately faded; cyl retains about 50-60% orig blue with balance a brown patina and shows about 80% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking; trigger guard and backstrap retain about 98% strong orig silver; grip is sound with a few nicks in the edges and retains about 93-95% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with 3 or 4 small spots of pitting. Case has a couple grain checks in the lid and couple more in the bottom with usual handling and storage nicks & scratches and retains 95-96% strong orig varnish; interior is very lightly faded in the lid with some light staining from revolvers and implements, bottom is moderately faded showing wear from the front sights and hammer spurs with light soil; flasks are very fine with the Army model retaining about 93-95% orig finish with one small dent on the back side; Navy model also has a sgl dent and retains about 95-98% orig finish; molds and other accessories are fine. This is an extraordinary rare set. 49631-50 (175,000-275,000) – Lot 4210 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - October 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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EXTRAORDINARY RARE PRESENTATION DOUBLE CASED SET OF COLT 1860 ARMY AND 1861 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS PRESENTED TO GENERAL WILLIAM A. THORNTON BY COL. COLT.