RARE COLT WALKER PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

RARE COLT WALKER PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN D COMPANY NO 81. Cal. 44. Usual configuration with 9″ oct to rnd bbl, brass front sight with fixed rear sight added in a dovetail at the cyl end of the top flat. Top flat has a 1-line block letter left hand address “ADDRESS SAML. COLT, NEW-YORK CITY”. Right side of bbl lug has a small “US” over “1847”. The square back brass trigger guard & steel backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip. Full SN was observed on left side of frame and left side of bbl lug. The abbreviated SN “D COMY No 81” is found on the trigger guard & cyl. Buttstrap SN is mostly worn away with only the “D” and part of the “81” visible. SN on cyl is only partially legible. Close examination of the bbl discloses that about 4-3/4″ of the front portion is a replacement. The workmanship is first class but different coloration of the metal is still visible, with some variation in the rifling in the bore. There were only 1,000 of these massive revolvers produced in 1847 to arm Dragoons of the U.S. Armed Forces engaged in the war with Mexico. They were issued to five different companies of Dragoons, A through E. Those revolvers which survived the War with Mexico in American hands remained in service well into the 1850s and in some cases even later, usually under adverse circumstances and are rarely found today in orig configuration with any orig finish. A large number of the 1,000 Walkers were destroyed when their cylinders burst and were replaced by different models of side arms. Given their overall size and hefty weight of 4 lbs. 9 oz. another portion of the 1,000 Walkers had their bbls reduced in length or were simply abandoned and therefore destroyed. Still more of the production were lost in Mexico during the war and simply “used up” by the Mexicans who obtained them. Very few survive today, estimated to be only about 10% of the total production. Therefore finding an orig Walker even with a modification is very rare today. Mr. Howard, in his collection notes, states that this revolver was once part of the Texas A&M Collection and is mentioned in an article on Walkers by Larry Wilson which appeared in the September 1979 issue of Man at Arms. He also states that it was acquired in 1977 from Jackson Arms by his cousin, Bill Brooks, who gifted the gun to Mr. Howard. PROVENANCE: Texas A&M Collection; Jackson Arms; Bill Brooks; Robert Howard Estate Collection. CONDITION: Good. No orig finish remains being an overall smooth gray metal patina; cyl retains traces of orig Dragoon/Indian fight scene; brass trigger guard is a medium mustard patina; grip has chipped toes and shows very heavy wear with a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with good shine and moderate pitting. 4-45299 JR213 (50,000-100,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	1588	$74,750.00	RARE COLT WALKER PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN D COMPANY NO 81. Cal. 44. Usual configuration with 9″ oct to rnd bbl, brass front sight with fixed rear sight added in a dovetail at the cyl end of the top flat. Top flat has a 1-line block letter left hand address “ADDRESS SAML. COLT, NEW-YORK CITY”. Right side of bbl lug has a small “US” over “1847”. The square back brass trigger guard & steel backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip. Full SN was observed on left side of frame and left side of bbl lug. The abbreviated SN “D COMY No 81” is found on the trigger guard & cyl. Buttstrap SN is mostly worn away with only the “D” and part of the “81” visible. SN on cyl is only partially legible. Close examination of the bbl discloses that about 4-3/4″ of the front portion is a replacement. The workmanship is first class but different coloration of the metal is still visible, with some variation in the rifling in the bore. There were only 1,000 of these massive revolvers produced in 1847 to arm Dragoons of the U.S. Armed Forces engaged in the war with Mexico. They were issued to five different companies of Dragoons, A through E. Those revolvers which survived the War with Mexico in American hands remained in service well into the 1850s and in some cases even later, usually under adverse circumstances and are rarely found today in orig configuration with any orig finish. A large number of the 1,000 Walkers were destroyed when their cylinders burst and were replaced by different models of side arms. Given their overall size and hefty weight of 4 lbs. 9 oz. another portion of the 1,000 Walkers had their bbls reduced in length or were simply abandoned and therefore destroyed. Still more of the production were lost in Mexico during the war and simply “used up” by the Mexicans who obtained them. Very few survive today, estimated to be only about 10% of the total production. Therefore finding an orig Walker even with a modification is very rare today. Mr. Howard, in his collection notes, states that this revolver was once part of the Texas A&M Collection and is mentioned in an article on Walkers by Larry Wilson which appeared in the September 1979 issue of Man at Arms. He also states that it was acquired in 1977 from Jackson Arms by his cousin, Bill Brooks, who gifted the gun to Mr. Howard. PROVENANCE: Texas A&M Collection; Jackson Arms; Bill Brooks; Robert Howard Estate Collection. CONDITION: Good. No orig finish remains being an overall smooth gray metal patina; cyl retains traces of orig Dragoon/Indian fight scene; brass trigger guard is a medium mustard patina; grip has chipped toes and shows very heavy wear with a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with good shine and moderate pitting. 4-45299 JR213 (50,000-100,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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