RARE INSCRIBED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER WITH DRAGOON STYLE BARREL.

RARE INSCRIBED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER WITH DRAGOON STYLE BARREL. SN 201631. Cal. 31. Usual configuration with 5″ oct. to round bbl with brass pin front sight and two line Hartford address with dashes. Left side of the frame has small “COLTS PATENT” and it has large guard silver plated trigger guard and backstrap containing an one piece walnut grip with last four digits of SN in the backstrap channel. Backstrap is inscribed in period script “John Slidell”. Over the years there has been substantial controversy over the authenticity of these ’49 pocket pistols with dragoon bbls. Initially they were thought to have been unauthorized factory production then later experimental or prototypes. However, over the ensuing years numerous revolvers in this configuration have surfaced and have been examined by some of the most knowledgeable Colt authorities in the world. Numerous articles and papers have been written about these studies which are generally inconclusive as to their authenticity. The general conclusion is that the workmanship is of “Colt quality” and if they aren’t factory production they should have been. Certainly these revolvers in this configuration are the most visually pleasing of all the Models 1849. The inscription “John Slidell” on the backstrap is for a rather historic American for whom the city of Slidell, Louisiana is named. Mr. Slidell was born in 1793 and died July 26, 1871 in England. His early career was as a business-man in New York but after an affair with another man’s wife and the ensuing duel in which both men were wounded, Mr. Slidell moved to New Orleans and became an attorney practicing law there until 1843 when he was elected a U.S. Representative from Louisiana. Due to his support of President Polk, in the fall of 1845 he was appointed as an emissary to Mexico to negotiate the border disputes between Texas and the United States, the American Forgiveness of Claims by U.S. Citizens Against Mexico, the purchase of New Mexico for $5 million and the purchase of California at any price. Unfortunately his mission failed with the Mexican War ensuing in which the U.S. prevailed and seized all of these territories without remuneration. In 1853 he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He was very pro-Southern rights and worked to repeal “The Missouri Compromise” and supported the “Lecompton Constitution”. At the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Slidell went over to the Confederacy and was appointed to represent the Confederacy in France. He and his family, along with fellow Confederate diplomat James M. Mason, his family and their secretaries were in transit aboard the British mail ship Trent on the way to Europe when the ship was stopped on the high seas by the U.S. warship San Jacinto.Both diplomat families & retinue were removed from the Trent and transported to Boston where the diplomats were imprisoned. This action became known as the Trent Affair which greatly incensed the British who were on the verge of declaring war. The U.S. relented and allowed Mr. Slidell and Mr. Mason to resume their journey to Europe. Mr. Slidell remained in France throughout the Civil War attempting to obtain support from the French, with limited success. While he was stationed in France his daughter Matilda met and married a prominent French Baron named Erlanger who became a major investor in the New Orleans Northeastern Railroad. Mr. Slidell, upset and angry over the Union victory in the Civil War vowed to never return to the U.S., which he never did. He never sought a pardon from the Federal Government and died in England in 1871. His daughter and son-in-law, the Baron and Baroness Erlanger, came to the U.S. in about 1883 to oversee their investments in the railroad. One of their railroad stations, near the present Amtrak station, was named “Slidell” by Baron Erlanger for his father-in-law and in January 1884 the post office located near the railroad was named “Slidell Station” and in 1888 was incorporated in Tammany Parish as the City of Slidell. John Slidell was the brother-in-law of American Naval Commodore Matthew C. Perry and was also the brother-in-law of Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard. Accompanying this lot is an original CDV of John Slidell which was printed by the Charles Frederick Co. of New York. Some of the internet reprints accompanying this lot also have pictures of Mr. Slidell. Another reprint of a book page pictures this revolver in a rare complete Colt casing with caption identifying the backstrap inscription and that it is from the Fred W. Bergman Collection. PROVENANCE: The Dr. Robert A. Bettis Collection; Fred Bergman Collection; Johnnie Bassett Collection and Frank Sellers Collection. CONDITION: Very good, all matching except wedge which is unnumbered. Overall the metal retains a smooth even medium plummy brown patina with some mottled case colors on the frame and some light dings around the capping cutout on the right recoil shield as though it had been dropped on a hard surface. Cylinder has matching patina with a few nicks and dings and retains 30-35% stagecoach holdup scene. Trigger guard retains 60-70% strong original silver plating while the backstrap is a medium mustard patina. Grip has chipped toes otherwise is sound with several hammer marks on the bottom edges and buttstrap with light edge wear and a few minor nicks and scratches and retains most of its original varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with fine pitting. 4-39319 JR165 (6,000-10,000)

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
	2247	$5,175.00	RARE INSCRIBED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER WITH DRAGOON STYLE BARREL. SN 201631. Cal. 31. Usual configuration with 5″ oct. to round bbl with brass pin front sight and two line Hartford address with dashes. Left side of the frame has small “COLTS PATENT” and it has large guard silver plated trigger guard and backstrap containing an one piece walnut grip with last four digits of SN in the backstrap channel. Backstrap is inscribed in period script “John Slidell”. Over the years there has been substantial controversy over the authenticity of these ’49 pocket pistols with dragoon bbls. Initially they were thought to have been unauthorized factory production then later experimental or prototypes. However, over the ensuing years numerous revolvers in this configuration have surfaced and have been examined by some of the most knowledgeable Colt authorities in the world. Numerous articles and papers have been written about these studies which are generally inconclusive as to their authenticity. The general conclusion is that the workmanship is of “Colt quality” and if they aren’t factory production they should have been. Certainly these revolvers in this configuration are the most visually pleasing of all the Models 1849. The inscription “John Slidell” on the backstrap is for a rather historic American for whom the city of Slidell, Louisiana is named. Mr. Slidell was born in 1793 and died July 26, 1871 in England. His early career was as a business-man in New York but after an affair with another man’s wife and the ensuing duel in which both men were wounded, Mr. Slidell moved to New Orleans and became an attorney practicing law there until 1843 when he was elected a U.S. Representative from Louisiana. Due to his support of President Polk, in the fall of 1845 he was appointed as an emissary to Mexico to negotiate the border disputes between Texas and the United States, the American Forgiveness of Claims by U.S. Citizens Against Mexico, the purchase of New Mexico for $5 million and the purchase of California at any price. Unfortunately his mission failed with the Mexican War ensuing in which the U.S. prevailed and seized all of these territories without remuneration. In 1853 he was elected to the U.S. Senate. He was very pro-Southern rights and worked to repeal “The Missouri Compromise” and supported the “Lecompton Constitution”. At the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Slidell went over to the Confederacy and was appointed to represent the Confederacy in France. He and his family, along with fellow Confederate diplomat James M. Mason, his family and their secretaries were in transit aboard the British mail ship Trent on the way to Europe when the ship was stopped on the high seas by the U.S. warship San Jacinto.Both diplomat families & retinue were removed from the Trent and transported to Boston where the diplomats were imprisoned. This action became known as the Trent Affair which greatly incensed the British who were on the verge of declaring war. The U.S. relented and allowed Mr. Slidell and Mr. Mason to resume their journey to Europe. Mr. Slidell remained in France throughout the Civil War attempting to obtain support from the French, with limited success. While he was stationed in France his daughter Matilda met and married a prominent French Baron named Erlanger who became a major investor in the New Orleans Northeastern Railroad. Mr. Slidell, upset and angry over the Union victory in the Civil War vowed to never return to the U.S., which he never did. He never sought a pardon from the Federal Government and died in England in 1871. His daughter and son-in-law, the Baron and Baroness Erlanger, came to the U.S. in about 1883 to oversee their investments in the railroad. One of their railroad stations, near the present Amtrak station, was named “Slidell” by Baron Erlanger for his father-in-law and in January 1884 the post office located near the railroad was named “Slidell Station” and in 1888 was incorporated in Tammany Parish as the City of Slidell. John Slidell was the brother-in-law of American Naval Commodore Matthew C. Perry and was also the brother-in-law of Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard. Accompanying this lot is an original CDV of John Slidell which was printed by the Charles Frederick Co. of New York. Some of the internet reprints accompanying this lot also have pictures of Mr. Slidell. Another reprint of a book page pictures this revolver in a rare complete Colt casing with caption identifying the backstrap inscription and that it is from the Fred W. Bergman Collection. PROVENANCE: The Dr. Robert A. Bettis Collection; Fred Bergman Collection; Johnnie Bassett Collection and Frank Sellers Collection. CONDITION: Very good, all matching except wedge which is unnumbered. Overall the metal retains a smooth even medium plummy brown patina with some mottled case colors on the frame and some light dings around the capping cutout on the right recoil shield as though it had been dropped on a hard surface. Cylinder has matching patina with a few nicks and dings and retains 30-35% stagecoach holdup scene. Trigger guard retains 60-70% strong original silver plating while the backstrap is a medium mustard patina. Grip has chipped toes otherwise is sound with several hammer marks on the bottom edges and buttstrap with light edge wear and a few minor nicks and scratches and retains most of its original varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with fine pitting. 4-39319 JR165 (6,000-10,000) 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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