EXTRAORDINARILY RARE & PROBABLY THE ONLY KNOWN CASED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1865 POCKET NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE & PROBABLY THE ONLY KNOWN CASED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1865 POCKET NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 16619. Cal. 36. Spectacular late vine style engraved with plain background, possibly by Gustave Young, this wonderful revolver has 4-1/2″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line “NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA” address with rolled “COLTS PATENT” on left side of frame. Caliber marking is on left rear web of trigger guard. It has 5-shot rebated cylinder with rolled stagecoach holdup scene. It has silver plated large trigger guard & back strap with a most rare & extraordinary carved & checkered deluxe 1-pc walnut grip. Engraving consists of full coverage foliate arabesque vine patterns with the scroll on left recoil shield terminating in a blossom indicative of Gustave Young’s work. Bbl, bbl lug & rammer pivot are engraved to match as are the ends of the wedge. Hammer also has deluxe matching pattern engraving with a wolf’s head on each side of hammer nose and shading on sides of hammer spur. Top of back strap & shoulders of back strap & trigger guard are engraved with a fan & patterns also reminiscent of Mr. Young’s later identified work. Back strap has matching foliate patterns at top & heel and on butt strap with matching patterns on trigger bow and frame. Serial numbers on bbl lug, frame, trigger guard & butt strap are all accompanied by a small “E”. Back strap is engraved in period script “Presented to L.T. Pearson, Esq. / by Colt’s Pat. F.A. Mfg. Co. 17th July 1868. Accompanied by its orig Colt mahogany casing with black velvet lining, compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a single sided eagle & shield E Pluribus Unum pocket size flask, an L-shaped nipple wrench/screwdriver and a cardboard box of Goldmark’s Percussion Caps. Right rear compartment contains bullets & balls. Also accompanying is a packet of “COLT’S CARTRIDGE WORKS” combustible cartridges. This fabulous cased set appeared as Lot 130 in the Oct. 8, 2002 James D. Julia Auction of the incredible collection of Thomas K. Hutchinson and was purchased by the consignor from that auction. Subsequent to that auction information has come to light which firmly establishes this pocket sized Navy caliber revolver as the Model of 1865. This information was presented in an article in the Summer 2004 The Rampant Colt magazine by John D. Breslin & Philip Boulton, a copy of which accompanies this lot. The same information was also presented at the April 2002 meeting of the American Society of Arms Collectors and was in a lengthy article in their bulletin #85, a copy of which also accompanies. Additionally accompanying is a 10-page letter from noted author, researcher & historian, R.L. Wilson regarding this revolver and its presentation. Mr. Wilson states that according to the articles by Mr. Breslin, this is the only known dated Model 1865 Pocket Navy. Mr. Wilson further states that the grips were carved by Charles J. Helfricht, father of renowned Colt Master Engraver Cuno A. Helfricht. The presentation to L.T. Pearson was an internal presentation within the factory to someone obviously of great importance to the company who was held in very high esteem. This cased set was formerly in the William M. Locke Collection and apparently was so highly regarded by him that it appears in the color section of the book of his collection. It is pictured as plate 103 in the book Samuel Colt Presents, Wilson. It also appears on p. 73 in the book Colt Presentations from the Factory Ledgers 1856-1869, Houze. Mr. Houze states that on p. 561 of Journal B is the notation “Friday July 17.1868. 1. 4-1/2 in. New Pkt Pistol Engraved & Carved Stock presented to L.T. Pearson.” Mr Houze, in his note below the journal entry states “L.T. Pearson retired as the Colt’s Company’s Chief Accountant & Auditor on July 15, 1868” and only seven other numbers of Colt management were paid a higher salary. A copy of Mr. Houze’s book accompanies this lot. The quality & condition of this rare presentation piece renders it suitable for the most advanced collection or museum exhibit. PROVENANCE: William M. Locke Collection; Thomas Hutchinson Collection; Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, all matching including wedge & grip. Bbl retains about 95% glossy orig blue with some slight flaking on left side. Rammer handle & pivot retain strong case colors. Frame & hammer retain virtually all of their strong orig case colors turning dark. Cylinder retains about 85-90% orig blue, stronger in rebated area with all five safety pins crisp. Cylinder also retains 96-98% stagecoach holdup scene. Trigger guard & back strap retain most of their orig silver plating, slightly thin on back strap. The fabulous grip is sound showing light wear with a few fine nicks & scratches. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with scattered pitting. Case has a grain check in the lid and two more in the bottom, otherwise is sound with minor handling & storage nicks & scratches with a slight warp in the lid and overall retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded with minor soil from the cylinder and heel of grip with light damage from front sight & hammer spur. Flask is very fine, retaining about 90% orig finish. Nipple wrench/screwdriver, cap box & packet of cartridges are extremely fine. 4-36409 JR95 (75,000-125,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

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
	2014	$74,750.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE & PROBABLY THE ONLY KNOWN CASED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1865 POCKET NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 16619. Cal. 36. Spectacular late vine style engraved with plain background, possibly by Gustave Young, this wonderful revolver has 4-1/2″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line “NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA” address with rolled “COLTS PATENT” on left side of frame. Caliber marking is on left rear web of trigger guard. It has 5-shot rebated cylinder with rolled stagecoach holdup scene. It has silver plated large trigger guard & back strap with a most rare & extraordinary carved & checkered deluxe 1-pc walnut grip. Engraving consists of full coverage foliate arabesque vine patterns with the scroll on left recoil shield terminating in a blossom indicative of Gustave Young’s work. Bbl, bbl lug & rammer pivot are engraved to match as are the ends of the wedge. Hammer also has deluxe matching pattern engraving with a wolf’s head on each side of hammer nose and shading on sides of hammer spur. Top of back strap & shoulders of back strap & trigger guard are engraved with a fan & patterns also reminiscent of Mr. Young’s later identified work. Back strap has matching foliate patterns at top & heel and on butt strap with matching patterns on trigger bow and frame. Serial numbers on bbl lug, frame, trigger guard & butt strap are all accompanied by a small “E”. Back strap is engraved in period script “Presented to L.T. Pearson, Esq. / by Colt’s Pat. F.A. Mfg. Co. 17th July 1868. Accompanied by its orig Colt mahogany casing with black velvet lining, compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a single sided eagle & shield E Pluribus Unum pocket size flask, an L-shaped nipple wrench/screwdriver and a cardboard box of Goldmark’s Percussion Caps. Right rear compartment contains bullets & balls. Also accompanying is a packet of “COLT’S CARTRIDGE WORKS” combustible cartridges. This fabulous cased set appeared as Lot 130 in the Oct. 8, 2002 James D. Julia Auction of the incredible collection of Thomas K. Hutchinson and was purchased by the consignor from that auction. Subsequent to that auction information has come to light which firmly establishes this pocket sized Navy caliber revolver as the Model of 1865. This information was presented in an article in the Summer 2004 The Rampant Colt magazine by John D. Breslin & Philip Boulton, a copy of which accompanies this lot. The same information was also presented at the April 2002 meeting of the American Society of Arms Collectors and was in a lengthy article in their bulletin #85, a copy of which also accompanies. Additionally accompanying is a 10-page letter from noted author, researcher & historian, R.L. Wilson regarding this revolver and its presentation. Mr. Wilson states that according to the articles by Mr. Breslin, this is the only known dated Model 1865 Pocket Navy. Mr. Wilson further states that the grips were carved by Charles J. Helfricht, father of renowned Colt Master Engraver Cuno A. Helfricht. The presentation to L.T. Pearson was an internal presentation within the factory to someone obviously of great importance to the company who was held in very high esteem. This cased set was formerly in the William M. Locke Collection and apparently was so highly regarded by him that it appears in the color section of the book of his collection. It is pictured as plate 103 in the book Samuel Colt Presents, Wilson. It also appears on p. 73 in the book Colt Presentations from the Factory Ledgers 1856-1869, Houze. Mr. Houze states that on p. 561 of Journal B is the notation “Friday July 17.1868. 1. 4-1/2 in. New Pkt Pistol Engraved & Carved Stock presented to L.T. Pearson.” Mr Houze, in his note below the journal entry states “L.T. Pearson retired as the Colt’s Company’s Chief Accountant & Auditor on July 15, 1868” and only seven other numbers of Colt management were paid a higher salary. A copy of Mr. Houze’s book accompanies this lot. The quality & condition of this rare presentation piece renders it suitable for the most advanced collection or museum exhibit. PROVENANCE: William M. Locke Collection; Thomas Hutchinson Collection; Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, all matching including wedge & grip. Bbl retains about 95% glossy orig blue with some slight flaking on left side. Rammer handle & pivot retain strong case colors. Frame & hammer retain virtually all of their strong orig case colors turning dark. Cylinder retains about 85-90% orig blue, stronger in rebated area with all five safety pins crisp. Cylinder also retains 96-98% stagecoach holdup scene. Trigger guard & back strap retain most of their orig silver plating, slightly thin on back strap. The fabulous grip is sound showing light wear with a few fine nicks & scratches. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with scattered pitting. Case has a grain check in the lid and two more in the bottom, otherwise is sound with minor handling & storage nicks & scratches with a slight warp in the lid and overall retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded with minor soil from the cylinder and heel of grip with light damage from front sight & hammer spur. Flask is very fine, retaining about 90% orig finish. Nipple wrench/screwdriver, cap box & packet of cartridges are extremely fine. 4-36409 JR95 (75,000-125,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 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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