CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 188366. Cal. .31. Usual configuration with 4″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line address”NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA” address. Left side of the frame has tiny “COLTS PATENT” and the large guard silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-piece walnut grip with last four digits of serial number in the backstrap channel. Cyl is usual five shots with stagecoach holdup scene. Buttstrap is inscribed in period script “Wm. Struthers / to / Adriano D’Orsolini”. Adriano D’Orsolini enlisted in Phila. as a Pvt on Apr 24, 1861 in “D” Co., 18th Regt, PA Infantry and was mustered out on Aug 7, 1861. No other information is available. William Struthers enlisted as a Pvt, from Phila. on Aug 16, 1864 into”C” Col, 186th PA Infantry. and was mustered out, one year later on Aug 15, 1865, apparently as a Pvt. A copy of an entry for “Adriand [sic] D’Orsolini” from the PA State Archives lists the same information as above and shows his occupation as “carver”. Also accompanying is a copy of a letter dated Feb. 19, 1861, from the directors of the Commonwealth Fire Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, to President Lincoln regarding the appointment of General Simon Cameron to the position of Secretary of the Treasury. One of the Directors listed for the Company is William Struthers. Also accompanying is information regarding contracts apparently with the City of Phila. to the firm of William Struthers & Sons to install white marble and ironwork for a clock tower, and later for a cast iron electric light standards. These contracts are dated 1873, 1889, and 1898. There is also a death notice of William Struthers dated Nov 20, 1876. It seems likely that given the fact that Mr. D’Orsolini was a “carver” and the fact that the Struthers company were involved in the marble and decoration business, that D’Orsolini was probably a valued employee of the company when he enlisted, and Mr. Struthers presented him with this revolver. It also seems likely that the William Struthers who enlisted in 1864 was probably William Struthers, Jr., son of the owner of the company. CONDITION: Good to very good, all matching including wedge and grip. Traces of orig finish remain as thin blue on the bbl in the most sheltered areas with most of the metal being a mottled brown to silver-brown patina with scattered, light surface pitting. Cyl is matching patina and retains about 40% stagecoach holdup scene with one area of a few spots of crusty oxidation. Trigger guard retains about 55-60% orig silver plating with the frontstrap and most of the trigger bow a light mustard patina. Backstrap retains 85-90% orig silver plating, slightly thinned on the backstrap and worn at the heel. Grip has a chipped right toe with several small chips, or possibly notches in the adjacent area and overall shows moderate wear with nicks and scratches and retains about 75% strong, orig varnish. Hand spring is either broken or missing which causes the hand to occasionally malfunction, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bore with fine pitting. 4-39987 JR376 (2,500-3,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	2232	$2,300.00	CIVIL WAR PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 188366. Cal. .31. Usual configuration with 4″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line address”NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA” address. Left side of the frame has tiny “COLTS PATENT” and the large guard silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-piece walnut grip with last four digits of serial number in the backstrap channel. Cyl is usual five shots with stagecoach holdup scene. Buttstrap is inscribed in period script “Wm. Struthers / to / Adriano D’Orsolini”. Adriano D’Orsolini enlisted in Phila. as a Pvt on Apr 24, 1861 in “D” Co., 18th Regt, PA Infantry and was mustered out on Aug 7, 1861. No other information is available. William Struthers enlisted as a Pvt, from Phila. on Aug 16, 1864 into”C” Col, 186th PA Infantry. and was mustered out, one year later on Aug 15, 1865, apparently as a Pvt. A copy of an entry for “Adriand [sic] D’Orsolini” from the PA State Archives lists the same information as above and shows his occupation as “carver”. Also accompanying is a copy of a letter dated Feb. 19, 1861, from the directors of the Commonwealth Fire Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, to President Lincoln regarding the appointment of General Simon Cameron to the position of Secretary of the Treasury. One of the Directors listed for the Company is William Struthers. Also accompanying is information regarding contracts apparently with the City of Phila. to the firm of William Struthers & Sons to install white marble and ironwork for a clock tower, and later for a cast iron electric light standards. These contracts are dated 1873, 1889, and 1898. There is also a death notice of William Struthers dated Nov 20, 1876. It seems likely that given the fact that Mr. D’Orsolini was a “carver” and the fact that the Struthers company were involved in the marble and decoration business, that D’Orsolini was probably a valued employee of the company when he enlisted, and Mr. Struthers presented him with this revolver. It also seems likely that the William Struthers who enlisted in 1864 was probably William Struthers, Jr., son of the owner of the company. CONDITION: Good to very good, all matching including wedge and grip. Traces of orig finish remain as thin blue on the bbl in the most sheltered areas with most of the metal being a mottled brown to silver-brown patina with scattered, light surface pitting. Cyl is matching patina and retains about 40% stagecoach holdup scene with one area of a few spots of crusty oxidation. Trigger guard retains about 55-60% orig silver plating with the frontstrap and most of the trigger bow a light mustard patina. Backstrap retains 85-90% orig silver plating, slightly thinned on the backstrap and worn at the heel. Grip has a chipped right toe with several small chips, or possibly notches in the adjacent area and overall shows moderate wear with nicks and scratches and retains about 75% strong, orig varnish. Hand spring is either broken or missing which causes the hand to occasionally malfunction, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bore with fine pitting. 4-39987 JR376 (2,500-3,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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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