EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED ENGRAVED EXHIBITION QUALITY COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED ENGRAVED EXHIBITION QUALITY COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 39220/IE. Cal. 36. Blue & color case hardened with 4-1/2″ rnd bbl with brass pin front sight, hand engraved London address and fluted 5-shot cylinder. Frame has hand engraved “COLTS PATENT” in a pillow pattern and it has silver-plated steel trigger guard & backstrap containing its orig factory 1-pc ivory grip. SN was noted on the usual four places on bottom of the revolver with the number on the bbl lug accompanied by the initials “IE” indicating factory ivory grips & engraved. This fabulous revolver is deluxe engraved from the hand of Master Engraver Gustave Young with full coverage, intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with one of the scrolls terminating in a flower blossom. Engraving extends over bbl lug on both sides terminating over the top in front of the hand engraved bbl address. Address is in large letters “ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON”. There is a fine chip & dot border around the muzzle. Rammer pivot is also engraved. Cylinder is engraved to match with foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes and completely around the rebated area. This is most unusual feature for this model of revolver to have its cylinder engraved. Hammer is deluxe engraved with a wolf’s head on each side of the nose, foliate arabesque patterns down the sides with a matted pattern on each side of the spur. Top of the backstrap has Mr. Young’s typical fan pattern with the backstrap, buttstrap & trigger guard engraved to match the frame. Accompanied by a deluxe Colt green velvet lined, rosewood casing with empty rectangular plate in lid and an ivory shield lock escutcheon. Bottom is partitioned in American style with compartments for revolver, an exceptionally fine dbl-sided “COLTS PATENT” flask, a blued 2-cavity mold with “COLTS PATENT” sprue cutter and “36P” on right side, an L-shaped nipple wrench and a small lacquered tin of Eley’s caps with green label. Also accompanied by two sealed packets of Colt’s combustibe cartridges. Additionally accompanied by a 2-page letter from noted Colt historian & author R.L. Wilson detailing most of the above information and stating that as of 1962 there were only eight known 1862 Police Revolvers with London address. Mr. Wilson further provides a brief history of this revolver stating that it had been purchased directly from the family of an old Colt employee by the name of Henry Bryant who apparently inherited this revolver and other fine Colts from James Bryant who had been an employee under Samuel Colt himself. He speculates that the only reason that this revolver is not in the Colt factory collection is because it had been purchased by an employee. This revolver, case & accessories appear in full color on pp. 68-69 of Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, Wilson. Mr. Wilson in his letter also states that it is his opinion that this revolver was created to promote the English market and the London office but for whatever reason was never shipped. He cites an article by Harry C. Knode, which appeared in The American Rifleman magazine in Feb. 1959 and March 1962, wherein Mr. Knode discusses other known models of 1862 with London bbl address, none of which are hand engraved. The quality of the engraving and the brilliant extra high luster finish on this revolver supports Mr. Wilson’s contention that it was, indeed, intended to be an exhibition piece. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection; James Bryant; Henry G. Bryant. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, all matching including wedge (grip was not checked). Bbl & cyl retain about 96-97% brilliant glossy orig blue with slight muzzle edge wear and some flaking on left side at muzzle. Cyl shows slight front edge wear with all five safety pins crisp. Rammer & handle retain about all of their brilliant case colors, slightly faded on right side of handle. Piston retains about all of its orig blue. Frame & hammer retain most of their orig factory case colors, strong & bright on left front side of frame, somewhat faded on right side and turning dark on recoil shields. Hammer is brilliant. Trigger guard & backstrap retain about 60% strong orig silver plating, thin on front & backstraps. Grip is sound with a few age lines and retains a wonderful mellow ivory patina. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny unfired bore. Case has a crack and a couple of grain checks in bottom otherwise is completely sound with light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded and lightly soiled with slight damage from front sight and hammer spur. Flask & mold are crisp retaining most of the orig factory finish. Cap tin is extremely fine. Altogether an extraordinary exhibition quality set that would enhance anyone’s collection. 4-36510 JR148 (150,000-225,000)

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
	2155	$166,750.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE CASED ENGRAVED EXHIBITION QUALITY COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 39220/IE. Cal. 36. Blue & color case hardened with 4-1/2″ rnd bbl with brass pin front sight, hand engraved London address and fluted 5-shot cylinder. Frame has hand engraved “COLTS PATENT” in a pillow pattern and it has silver-plated steel trigger guard & backstrap containing its orig factory 1-pc ivory grip. SN was noted on the usual four places on bottom of the revolver with the number on the bbl lug accompanied by the initials “IE” indicating factory ivory grips & engraved. This fabulous revolver is deluxe engraved from the hand of Master Engraver Gustave Young with full coverage, intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with one of the scrolls terminating in a flower blossom. Engraving extends over bbl lug on both sides terminating over the top in front of the hand engraved bbl address. Address is in large letters “ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON”. There is a fine chip & dot border around the muzzle. Rammer pivot is also engraved. Cylinder is engraved to match with foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes and completely around the rebated area. This is most unusual feature for this model of revolver to have its cylinder engraved. Hammer is deluxe engraved with a wolf’s head on each side of the nose, foliate arabesque patterns down the sides with a matted pattern on each side of the spur. Top of the backstrap has Mr. Young’s typical fan pattern with the backstrap, buttstrap & trigger guard engraved to match the frame. Accompanied by a deluxe Colt green velvet lined, rosewood casing with empty rectangular plate in lid and an ivory shield lock escutcheon. Bottom is partitioned in American style with compartments for revolver, an exceptionally fine dbl-sided “COLTS PATENT” flask, a blued 2-cavity mold with “COLTS PATENT” sprue cutter and “36P” on right side, an L-shaped nipple wrench and a small lacquered tin of Eley’s caps with green label. Also accompanied by two sealed packets of Colt’s combustibe cartridges. Additionally accompanied by a 2-page letter from noted Colt historian & author R.L. Wilson detailing most of the above information and stating that as of 1962 there were only eight known 1862 Police Revolvers with London address. Mr. Wilson further provides a brief history of this revolver stating that it had been purchased directly from the family of an old Colt employee by the name of Henry Bryant who apparently inherited this revolver and other fine Colts from James Bryant who had been an employee under Samuel Colt himself. He speculates that the only reason that this revolver is not in the Colt factory collection is because it had been purchased by an employee. This revolver, case & accessories appear in full color on pp. 68-69 of Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, Wilson. Mr. Wilson in his letter also states that it is his opinion that this revolver was created to promote the English market and the London office but for whatever reason was never shipped. He cites an article by Harry C. Knode, which appeared in The American Rifleman magazine in Feb. 1959 and March 1962, wherein Mr. Knode discusses other known models of 1862 with London bbl address, none of which are hand engraved. The quality of the engraving and the brilliant extra high luster finish on this revolver supports Mr. Wilson’s contention that it was, indeed, intended to be an exhibition piece. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection; James Bryant; Henry G. Bryant. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, all matching including wedge (grip was not checked). Bbl & cyl retain about 96-97% brilliant glossy orig blue with slight muzzle edge wear and some flaking on left side at muzzle. Cyl shows slight front edge wear with all five safety pins crisp. Rammer & handle retain about all of their brilliant case colors, slightly faded on right side of handle. Piston retains about all of its orig blue. Frame & hammer retain most of their orig factory case colors, strong & bright on left front side of frame, somewhat faded on right side and turning dark on recoil shields. Hammer is brilliant. Trigger guard & backstrap retain about 60% strong orig silver plating, thin on front & backstraps. Grip is sound with a few age lines and retains a wonderful mellow ivory patina. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny unfired bore. Case has a crack and a couple of grain checks in bottom otherwise is completely sound with light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded and lightly soiled with slight damage from front sight and hammer spur. Flask & mold are crisp retaining most of the orig factory finish. Cap tin is extremely fine. Altogether an extraordinary exhibition quality set that would enhance anyone’s collection. 4-36510 JR148 (150,000-225,000) 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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