EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1 BABY OR POCKET MODEL PATERSON PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1 BABY OR POCKET MODEL PATERSON PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 98. Cal. 28. Possibly the only one of its type in existence, this fabulous little revolver is extraordinary in its configuration as well as its fabulous, probably unfired condition. Only about 500 of these little revolvers were produced in the period 1837-1838. Few were engraved with very few of those having silver bands and of those, only a very few were cased. This was Colt’s first production arm and the smallest model of percussion revolver produced by Colt. It has a nearly unbelievable 1-3/4″ oct bbl which is the shortest Colt percussion revolver bbl known as of this writing. Bbl address is only partially legible and the bbl obviously was reduced in length at the factory, undoubtedly on special order. Bbl & frame are wonderfully engraved in foliate arabesque patterns, referred to as “early vine”, with nearly full coverage on the sides of the bbl, sides of the frame and recoil shields. Rear edge of the hammer is engraved in foliate patterns and the top of the front strap has the vignette of a hunting dog surrounded by foliate patterns. The very top of the front strap, around the trigger slot, is engraved with a smiling sunburst pattern. The bbl has a medium silver band around the muzzle with wide silver bands around the bottom of the lug and top rear end of the lug with a narrow silver band at the chamber end of the bbl. The recoil shields are inlaid with a very wide & narrow silver bands. Back strap is engraved to match with an inlaid German silver rectangle that has scalloped corners. It has 5-shot cylinder with rnd shoulder and is roll-marked with the centaur scene and “COLT” in the 4-horsehead panel. Mounted with spectacular pearl grips attached to a wood block with three German silver rivets. SN was observed on the rear face of the bbl lug, on the wedge, rear edge of the cylinder, rear face of the front strap, inside the back strap, on the cylinder rotating ring and tip of the trigger. Accompanied by an orig purple velvet lined, walnut Paterson casing with fluted lid that has an empty rectangular plate with scalloped corners in the center. Bottom is recessed for the revolver, a blued 3-pc Baby Paterson mold with turned walnut handles & brass ferrules, a blued Baby Paterson combination tool, a brass cleaning rod with turned walnut handle & brass ferrule, an orig Baby Paterson copper & brass charger with the number “62” on all of the various parts. Also accompanied by a reproduction Paterson pistol capper. And finally the right rear corner is recessed for a spare cylinder, which is included, and is serial numbered “123”. This cylinder is identical in all respects to the cylinder in the revolver. Also accompanied by a functioning key. Additionally accompanied by a 6-page letter from noted Colt authority & author, R.L. Wilson, detailing much of the above information. This extraordinary revolver is well known with provenance to numerous early Colt Collections and is pictured in a great variety of books on Colt firearms including The Colt Heritage; An American Legend; The Colt Engraving Book Vol. I; Fine Colts, The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, all by Wilson and also pictured as Plate 64 on p. 85 of Paterson Colt Pistol Variations, Phillips & Wilson. It is readily apparent that this dainty little revolver was a special creation for a gentleman or a lady who wished to have a concealable pocket pistol. It does not appear to have ever been fired. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection; John Solley Collection. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, all matching as noted above. Bbl & cyl retain virtually all of their strong orig Colt blue with a few nicks & dings on top flat of bbl. Cyl has a few lightly thinned spots. Frame retains glossy bright blue on recoil shields turned blue/gray on lower portion and on front strap. Back strap retains thinning glossy orig blue. Hammer retains most of its orig case colors. Grip is extremely fine plus with one minor chip near right heel otherwise is sound with great fire and good color. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Case is sound with slightly warped lid and retains most of an old added finish. Interior is extremely fine with slight fading and soil. Accessories are also extremely fine. A truly exceptional & rare Colt revolver that would be the centerpiece to any collection. 4-36487 JR126 (400,000-700,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	2142	$0.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1 BABY OR POCKET MODEL PATERSON PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 98. Cal. 28. Possibly the only one of its type in existence, this fabulous little revolver is extraordinary in its configuration as well as its fabulous, probably unfired condition. Only about 500 of these little revolvers were produced in the period 1837-1838. Few were engraved with very few of those having silver bands and of those, only a very few were cased. This was Colt’s first production arm and the smallest model of percussion revolver produced by Colt. It has a nearly unbelievable 1-3/4″ oct bbl which is the shortest Colt percussion revolver bbl known as of this writing. Bbl address is only partially legible and the bbl obviously was reduced in length at the factory, undoubtedly on special order. Bbl & frame are wonderfully engraved in foliate arabesque patterns, referred to as “early vine”, with nearly full coverage on the sides of the bbl, sides of the frame and recoil shields. Rear edge of the hammer is engraved in foliate patterns and the top of the front strap has the vignette of a hunting dog surrounded by foliate patterns. The very top of the front strap, around the trigger slot, is engraved with a smiling sunburst pattern. The bbl has a medium silver band around the muzzle with wide silver bands around the bottom of the lug and top rear end of the lug with a narrow silver band at the chamber end of the bbl. The recoil shields are inlaid with a very wide & narrow silver bands. Back strap is engraved to match with an inlaid German silver rectangle that has scalloped corners. It has 5-shot cylinder with rnd shoulder and is roll-marked with the centaur scene and “COLT” in the 4-horsehead panel. Mounted with spectacular pearl grips attached to a wood block with three German silver rivets. SN was observed on the rear face of the bbl lug, on the wedge, rear edge of the cylinder, rear face of the front strap, inside the back strap, on the cylinder rotating ring and tip of the trigger. Accompanied by an orig purple velvet lined, walnut Paterson casing with fluted lid that has an empty rectangular plate with scalloped corners in the center. Bottom is recessed for the revolver, a blued 3-pc Baby Paterson mold with turned walnut handles & brass ferrules, a blued Baby Paterson combination tool, a brass cleaning rod with turned walnut handle & brass ferrule, an orig Baby Paterson copper & brass charger with the number “62” on all of the various parts. Also accompanied by a reproduction Paterson pistol capper. And finally the right rear corner is recessed for a spare cylinder, which is included, and is serial numbered “123”. This cylinder is identical in all respects to the cylinder in the revolver. Also accompanied by a functioning key. Additionally accompanied by a 6-page letter from noted Colt authority & author, R.L. Wilson, detailing much of the above information. This extraordinary revolver is well known with provenance to numerous early Colt Collections and is pictured in a great variety of books on Colt firearms including The Colt Heritage; An American Legend; The Colt Engraving Book Vol. I; Fine Colts, The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, all by Wilson and also pictured as Plate 64 on p. 85 of Paterson Colt Pistol Variations, Phillips & Wilson. It is readily apparent that this dainty little revolver was a special creation for a gentleman or a lady who wished to have a concealable pocket pistol. It does not appear to have ever been fired. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection; John Solley Collection. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, all matching as noted above. Bbl & cyl retain virtually all of their strong orig Colt blue with a few nicks & dings on top flat of bbl. Cyl has a few lightly thinned spots. Frame retains glossy bright blue on recoil shields turned blue/gray on lower portion and on front strap. Back strap retains thinning glossy orig blue. Hammer retains most of its orig case colors. Grip is extremely fine plus with one minor chip near right heel otherwise is sound with great fire and good color. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Case is sound with slightly warped lid and retains most of an old added finish. Interior is extremely fine with slight fading and soil. Accessories are also extremely fine. A truly exceptional & rare Colt revolver that would be the centerpiece to any collection. 4-36487 JR126 (400,000-700,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 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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