EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID PAIR OF COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID PAIR OF COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS. SN 162977 & 162978. Cal. 44. These spectacular revolvers are identical in all respects with 8″ bbls, German silver front sights and gold inlaid “ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON.” on top of bbls. Left side of bbls are inlaid with a flying American eagle clutching arrows and a ribbon engraved “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. Right sides of bbl lugs are inlaid in gold with the image of seated Lady Liberty holding a shield which is inscribed “LIBERTY”. In her left hand she is holding a staff with a Liberty cap. Both sides of bbls are inlaid with extremely fine gold foliate & vine patterns with extremely fine gold wire inlay around address on both bbls. End of rammer handles is very nicely checkered with gold wire outline on the pivots and a gold wire outline around the rammer slot. Frames are color case hardened with gold wire outline around the sides and recoil shields. Cyls are rebated, usual 6-shots with Ormsby Naval Battle scene roll marking & gold wire bands front & rear with foliate arabesque patterns between the cyl stop notches and gold wire outline around the stop notches. Left side of frames are inlaid in gold “COLT’S PATENT”. Hammers are engraved with a wolf’s head on each side of hammer nose with gold wire borders around shanks & spurs with foliate & vine patterns. Wolf’s heads have gold inlaid tongues & eyes. Trigger guards & backstraps are also beautifully engraved & gold plated. They are mounted with 1-pc walnut grips that are wonderfully relief carved with the image of Lady Liberty and a shield holding a staff with Liberty cap and an eagle in the foreground, standing in front of a relief carved tree with oak leaves & acorns which probably represents the venerated “CHARTER OAK”. Right grips are raise carved with an anchor surrounded by acanthus vines & leaves. All the SNs on bottom of both revolvers are accompanied by a small “E”. This pair is accompanied by a fine custom brass bound walnut casing that is red & green felt lined and French fitted for the two revolvers, a gold plated “COLTS PATENT” trophy of arms & flags flask with angle spout, a gold plated 2-cavity bullet & ball “COLT’S PATENT” mold with sprue cutter that is marked on right side “44 H” and with a “C” inspector mark. Also accompanied by a gold plated L-shaped nipple wrench and a tin of Eley’s caps with repoussed brass top. In addition there is a sealed packet of combustible cartridges. Right rear covered compartment has cast lead bullets & balls and the left front covered compartment has six spare nipples. Accompanied by the book Gold Colts A Tribute to Gustave Young, Perry. Chapter 4 of the referenced publication is about gold inlaid Model 1860 Army revolvers. Pages 132-150 concern this pair of revolvers. Pages 132-139 are a reprint of a letter of documentation and authentication from noted Colt historian & author, R.L. Wilson. Mr. Wilson states that these revolvers are the only two Colt percussion revolvers identified by SN in the records as being gold inlaid. He states that they are listed in the “Civil War Ledger Book No. 3” under the date March 11, 1867 with the entry “gold inlaid, gold mounted straps and guards”. Mr. Wilson states that revolver #162977 was discovered in 1966 in Turkey in an altered state with about a 5-1/2″ bbl, showing much use with the finish reduced to patina. #162978 has yet to be discovered. He identifies the engraving and gold inlay as the work of master engraver Gustave Young and the carved stocks attributed to Charles J. Helfricht. Mr. Wilson identifies the first known American owner as the former well known and rspected Johnie Bassett of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The revolver was purchased by Mr. Glenn Gierhart of Indianapolis, Indiana who lived in the close proximity of master gunsmith & creative artist Tommy Haas, Sr. Mr. Gierhart contracted with Mr. Haas to restore #162977 to its orig configuration and finish and to create #162978 to match. Mr. Haas accomplished the work very admirably and created a pair of masterpieces that would make Samuel Colt proud. These revolvers are then pictured in full color on pp. 141-150 of the referenced publication. They are also pictured in numerous other publications. PROVENANCE: Johnie Bassett Collection; Glenn Gierhart Collection; R.L. Wilson Collection. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, pristine new retaining all of their crisp Tommy Haas finish with bright Colt blue and brilliant case colors. The orig grip on #162977 shows moderate wear while the other is crisp & sharp. Case is sound with light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains about all of its custom finish; interior & accessories are also crisp & clean. 4-45686 JR197 (35,000-75,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

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
	1503	$0.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID PAIR OF COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS. SN 162977 & 162978. Cal. 44. These spectacular revolvers are identical in all respects with 8″ bbls, German silver front sights and gold inlaid “ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON.” on top of bbls. Left side of bbls are inlaid with a flying American eagle clutching arrows and a ribbon engraved “E PLURIBUS UNUM”. Right sides of bbl lugs are inlaid in gold with the image of seated Lady Liberty holding a shield which is inscribed “LIBERTY”. In her left hand she is holding a staff with a Liberty cap. Both sides of bbls are inlaid with extremely fine gold foliate & vine patterns with extremely fine gold wire inlay around address on both bbls. End of rammer handles is very nicely checkered with gold wire outline on the pivots and a gold wire outline around the rammer slot. Frames are color case hardened with gold wire outline around the sides and recoil shields. Cyls are rebated, usual 6-shots with Ormsby Naval Battle scene roll marking & gold wire bands front & rear with foliate arabesque patterns between the cyl stop notches and gold wire outline around the stop notches. Left side of frames are inlaid in gold “COLT’S PATENT”. Hammers are engraved with a wolf’s head on each side of hammer nose with gold wire borders around shanks & spurs with foliate & vine patterns. Wolf’s heads have gold inlaid tongues & eyes. Trigger guards & backstraps are also beautifully engraved & gold plated. They are mounted with 1-pc walnut grips that are wonderfully relief carved with the image of Lady Liberty and a shield holding a staff with Liberty cap and an eagle in the foreground, standing in front of a relief carved tree with oak leaves & acorns which probably represents the venerated “CHARTER OAK”. Right grips are raise carved with an anchor surrounded by acanthus vines & leaves. All the SNs on bottom of both revolvers are accompanied by a small “E”. This pair is accompanied by a fine custom brass bound walnut casing that is red & green felt lined and French fitted for the two revolvers, a gold plated “COLTS PATENT” trophy of arms & flags flask with angle spout, a gold plated 2-cavity bullet & ball “COLT’S PATENT” mold with sprue cutter that is marked on right side “44 H” and with a “C” inspector mark. Also accompanied by a gold plated L-shaped nipple wrench and a tin of Eley’s caps with repoussed brass top. In addition there is a sealed packet of combustible cartridges. Right rear covered compartment has cast lead bullets & balls and the left front covered compartment has six spare nipples. Accompanied by the book Gold Colts A Tribute to Gustave Young, Perry. Chapter 4 of the referenced publication is about gold inlaid Model 1860 Army revolvers. Pages 132-150 concern this pair of revolvers. Pages 132-139 are a reprint of a letter of documentation and authentication from noted Colt historian & author, R.L. Wilson. Mr. Wilson states that these revolvers are the only two Colt percussion revolvers identified by SN in the records as being gold inlaid. He states that they are listed in the “Civil War Ledger Book No. 3” under the date March 11, 1867 with the entry “gold inlaid, gold mounted straps and guards”. Mr. Wilson states that revolver #162977 was discovered in 1966 in Turkey in an altered state with about a 5-1/2″ bbl, showing much use with the finish reduced to patina. #162978 has yet to be discovered. He identifies the engraving and gold inlay as the work of master engraver Gustave Young and the carved stocks attributed to Charles J. Helfricht. Mr. Wilson identifies the first known American owner as the former well known and rspected Johnie Bassett of Fayetteville, Arkansas. The revolver was purchased by Mr. Glenn Gierhart of Indianapolis, Indiana who lived in the close proximity of master gunsmith & creative artist Tommy Haas, Sr. Mr. Gierhart contracted with Mr. Haas to restore #162977 to its orig configuration and finish and to create #162978 to match. Mr. Haas accomplished the work very admirably and created a pair of masterpieces that would make Samuel Colt proud. These revolvers are then pictured in full color on pp. 141-150 of the referenced publication. They are also pictured in numerous other publications. PROVENANCE: Johnie Bassett Collection; Glenn Gierhart Collection; R.L. Wilson Collection. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, pristine new retaining all of their crisp Tommy Haas finish with bright Colt blue and brilliant case colors. The orig grip on #162977 shows moderate wear while the other is crisp & sharp. Case is sound with light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains about all of its custom finish; interior & accessories are also crisp & clean. 4-45686 JR197 (35,000-75,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 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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