EXTRAORDINARILY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED CASED COLT NO. 5 HOLSTER MODEL TEXAS PATERSON PERCUSSION REVOLVER BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF SAM COLTS PERSONAL GUNS.

Revised: 10/5/2009

Additional Information: serial number in museum gun is 984.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED CASED COLT NO. 5 HOLSTER MODEL TEXAS PATERSON PERCUSSION REVOLVER BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF SAM COLTS PERSONAL GUNS. SN 985. Cal. 36. Fabulously rare Paterson with 6″ oct bbl that has six silver bands on the bbl and one very wide & a narrow silver band around the front edge of the recoil shield. Frame, bbl lug & back strap are very nicely engraved in early vine pattern consisting of flowing foliate arabesque patterns over the frame and both sides of the bbl lug. Both sides of the cylinder plate are engraved in climbing leaf patterns. Backstrap is engraved with foliate arabesque patterns at the top, heel & buttstrap. Center of the backstrap is inlaid with an empty rectangular silver plate. Muzzle of the bbl has deep border patterns & the bbl has the large letter address “Patent Arms Mg. Co. Paterson, N.J. – Colt’s Pt.”. The rear of the address has the star & snake pattern, however with the short bbl, the engraving patterns around the front sight left no room for the front star & snake pattern. Mounted with rare shell carved ivory grip panels with German silver frame & backing, mounted to a walnut block forming a 1-pc grip. Cylinder is roll-marked with the stagecoach holdup scene and has two wide silver bands. Accompanied by an early, orig Colt Paterson mahogany casing with fluted lid and a German silver rectangle that has scalloped corners in center of the lid. Interior is lined with dark brown or black velvet with recesses in the bottom for the revolver, a Paterson charger and in the right rear for a spare cylinder, which is present & bears number “844”, that also has two wide silver bands. Inside bottom of case also has wire clips and pins holding a sgl cavity, 3-pc orig Paterson mold with turned walnut handles and brass ferrules. It also contains an orig Paterson pistol capper numbered “200” inside the lid and in the bottom. It additionally has an orig copper & gold-washed brass Paterson Holster Model charger numbered “65”. The center band on the charger is rolled with the same address as is on the bbl. It also has an orig brass cleaning rod with 8″ shaft, and turned walnut handle with brass ferrule, and finally, an orig Holster Model Paterson multi-tool. Matching serial numbers were observed on the rear face of the bbl lug, cylinder rotating ring, face of trigger and left side of front strap under the grip. The cylinder & backstrap are numbered “941”. The “1” in these numberings appear to be stamped over. An alteration wedge is a period of use replacement without number. There is a well-known Paterson from Sam Colt’s personal collection with a nearly identically configured Holster Model Paterson with identical carved grips, and similar engraving currently on display as part of The Colt Collection at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT. That Paterson is consecutive numbered to this revolver, bearing number “984”. It is believed this pair was Col. Colt’s personal cased set and there is little doubt that they were Sam Colt’s personal side arms in fact according to “The Patterson Colt Book” featuring the Dennis Levett Collection on page 13, and also “Fine Colts The Doctor Joseph A. Murphy Collection” on page 3, the Patterson at the Antheneum has cylinder #985 currently in it not #984!!! Pretty convincing evidence that the 2 guns were together at least at one time and the cylinder from this gun #985 was mistakenly installed in #984 after cleaning. One of the first recorded instances of this revolver surfacing is a set of photographs from “Weston’s Mexican Art Shop” in Mexico City dated on the back Sept. 7, 1940. It next appeared in the Sept. 1945 Gimble Bros. Antique Firearms Catalog as Item #AV-8366-49 for a staggering asking price of $1,950.00. A copy of this catalog accompanies. Also accompanying is Jackson Arms Catalog #24, 1967, which lists this revolver as Item #213A wherein he states that the cylinder & backstrap are both numbered “984” and all other parts numbered “985”. This revolver was pictured as Plate XIII of Samuel Colt Presents, The Book of Colt Engraving -1974, Colt Engraving – 1982, all by Wilson, and was exhibited in the Wadsworth Atheneum Nov. 1961-Jan. 1962. It is also pictured on p. 22 of Paterson Pistols and Colt Firearms From 1836, Serven; Encyclopedia of Firearms, Peterson; Texas Gun Collector magazine 1968; Guns magazine Aug. 1969; Arms Gazette Vol. I #8 1974; Sotheby Parke Bernet Auction, Los Angeles Lot 115, March 1976; Man at Arms magazine July/Aug 1988; front cover Colt Collectors Association pamphlet, NRA Convention 1991; Rampant Colt magazine, Dec. 1991; The Gun Report, Nov. 1960. This revolver is also pictured in full color on p. 1 of Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, Wilson. While Col. Colt was able to effectively demonstrate that parts for his revolvers were interchangeable, the toe of the buttstrap on this revolver extends a few thousandths of an inch beyond the toe of the frontstrap. This does not affect the function of either piece or the revolver itself but simply demonstrates the hand fitting of each revolver. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection; Gamble Store; Jackson Arms; Weston’s Mexican Art Shop; Walter B. Ford III Collection; Petersen Museum Collection; Tom Seymour; John S. duMont Collection; Tom P. Weston Collection; Sotheby Parke Bernet Auction; CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 60-65% orig blue, strong on bottom, thin & fading elsewhere with a few small spots of pitting on left & right side flats. Frame retains 10-15% thin orig blue, strong on left recoil shield and in sheltered areas with balance a blue/gray patina. Backstrap has traces of thin blue at top of the backstrap with balance a blue/gray patina. Cyl retains 10-15% orig blue, mostly on the rounded shoulders with the balance a gray patina and overall retains 60-70% stagecoach holdup scene. Grip has a chipped left toe, chipped right heel and another small chip at the top right side with a couple of small cracks at the top right and overall retains a wonderful mellow ivory patina. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Spare cylinder retains a dark blue/brown patina and about 75-80% stagecoach holdup scene. Case has a couple of grain checks in the bottom, otherwise is sound and retains most of an old restored finish. Interior is lightly faded & soiled but completely sound. Charger retains most of its orig gold wash on the three rings and bright polish on the copper. Mold retains most of its strong orig blue. Capper is sound and carries a medium mustard patina. Multi-tool and cleaning rod are very fine. Altogether an extraordinary & rare set and an opportunity to own a piece of Colt history. 4-36488 (550,000-950,000)

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
	2143	$0.00	Revised: 10/5/2009 Additional Information: serial number in museum gun is 984. EXTRAORDINARILY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED CASED COLT NO. 5 HOLSTER MODEL TEXAS PATERSON PERCUSSION REVOLVER BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF SAM COLTS PERSONAL GUNS. SN 985. Cal. 36. Fabulously rare Paterson with 6″ oct bbl that has six silver bands on the bbl and one very wide & a narrow silver band around the front edge of the recoil shield. Frame, bbl lug & back strap are very nicely engraved in early vine pattern consisting of flowing foliate arabesque patterns over the frame and both sides of the bbl lug. Both sides of the cylinder plate are engraved in climbing leaf patterns. Backstrap is engraved with foliate arabesque patterns at the top, heel & buttstrap. Center of the backstrap is inlaid with an empty rectangular silver plate. Muzzle of the bbl has deep border patterns & the bbl has the large letter address “Patent Arms Mg. Co. Paterson, N.J. – Colt’s Pt.”. The rear of the address has the star & snake pattern, however with the short bbl, the engraving patterns around the front sight left no room for the front star & snake pattern. Mounted with rare shell carved ivory grip panels with German silver frame & backing, mounted to a walnut block forming a 1-pc grip. Cylinder is roll-marked with the stagecoach holdup scene and has two wide silver bands. Accompanied by an early, orig Colt Paterson mahogany casing with fluted lid and a German silver rectangle that has scalloped corners in center of the lid. Interior is lined with dark brown or black velvet with recesses in the bottom for the revolver, a Paterson charger and in the right rear for a spare cylinder, which is present & bears number “844”, that also has two wide silver bands. Inside bottom of case also has wire clips and pins holding a sgl cavity, 3-pc orig Paterson mold with turned walnut handles and brass ferrules. It also contains an orig Paterson pistol capper numbered “200” inside the lid and in the bottom. It additionally has an orig copper & gold-washed brass Paterson Holster Model charger numbered “65”. The center band on the charger is rolled with the same address as is on the bbl. It also has an orig brass cleaning rod with 8″ shaft, and turned walnut handle with brass ferrule, and finally, an orig Holster Model Paterson multi-tool. Matching serial numbers were observed on the rear face of the bbl lug, cylinder rotating ring, face of trigger and left side of front strap under the grip. The cylinder & backstrap are numbered “941”. The “1” in these numberings appear to be stamped over. An alteration wedge is a period of use replacement without number. There is a well-known Paterson from Sam Colt’s personal collection with a nearly identically configured Holster Model Paterson with identical carved grips, and similar engraving currently on display as part of The Colt Collection at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT. That Paterson is consecutive numbered to this revolver, bearing number “984”. It is believed this pair was Col. Colt’s personal cased set and there is little doubt that they were Sam Colt’s personal side arms in fact according to “The Patterson Colt Book” featuring the Dennis Levett Collection on page 13, and also “Fine Colts The Doctor Joseph A. Murphy Collection” on page 3, the Patterson at the Antheneum has cylinder #985 currently in it not #984!!! Pretty convincing evidence that the 2 guns were together at least at one time and the cylinder from this gun #985 was mistakenly installed in #984 after cleaning. One of the first recorded instances of this revolver surfacing is a set of photographs from “Weston’s Mexican Art Shop” in Mexico City dated on the back Sept. 7, 1940. It next appeared in the Sept. 1945 Gimble Bros. Antique Firearms Catalog as Item #AV-8366-49 for a staggering asking price of $1,950.00. A copy of this catalog accompanies. Also accompanying is Jackson Arms Catalog #24, 1967, which lists this revolver as Item #213A wherein he states that the cylinder & backstrap are both numbered “984” and all other parts numbered “985”. This revolver was pictured as Plate XIII of Samuel Colt Presents, The Book of Colt Engraving -1974, Colt Engraving – 1982, all by Wilson, and was exhibited in the Wadsworth Atheneum Nov. 1961-Jan. 1962. It is also pictured on p. 22 of Paterson Pistols and Colt Firearms From 1836, Serven; Encyclopedia of Firearms, Peterson; Texas Gun Collector magazine 1968; Guns magazine Aug. 1969; Arms Gazette Vol. I #8 1974; Sotheby Parke Bernet Auction, Los Angeles Lot 115, March 1976; Man at Arms magazine July/Aug 1988; front cover Colt Collectors Association pamphlet, NRA Convention 1991; Rampant Colt magazine, Dec. 1991; The Gun Report, Nov. 1960. This revolver is also pictured in full color on p. 1 of Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, Wilson. While Col. Colt was able to effectively demonstrate that parts for his revolvers were interchangeable, the toe of the buttstrap on this revolver extends a few thousandths of an inch beyond the toe of the frontstrap. This does not affect the function of either piece or the revolver itself but simply demonstrates the hand fitting of each revolver. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection; Gamble Store; Jackson Arms; Weston’s Mexican Art Shop; Walter B. Ford III Collection; Petersen Museum Collection; Tom Seymour; John S. duMont Collection; Tom P. Weston Collection; Sotheby Parke Bernet Auction; CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 60-65% orig blue, strong on bottom, thin & fading elsewhere with a few small spots of pitting on left & right side flats. Frame retains 10-15% thin orig blue, strong on left recoil shield and in sheltered areas with balance a blue/gray patina. Backstrap has traces of thin blue at top of the backstrap with balance a blue/gray patina. Cyl retains 10-15% orig blue, mostly on the rounded shoulders with the balance a gray patina and overall retains 60-70% stagecoach holdup scene. Grip has a chipped left toe, chipped right heel and another small chip at the top right side with a couple of small cracks at the top right and overall retains a wonderful mellow ivory patina. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Spare cylinder retains a dark blue/brown patina and about 75-80% stagecoach holdup scene. Case has a couple of grain checks in the bottom, otherwise is sound and retains most of an old restored finish. Interior is lightly faded & soiled but completely sound. Charger retains most of its orig gold wash on the three rings and bright polish on the copper. Mold retains most of its strong orig blue. Capper is sound and carries a medium mustard patina. Multi-tool and cleaning rod are very fine. Altogether an extraordinary & rare set and an opportunity to own a piece of Colt history. 4-36488 (550,000-950,000) 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}