CASED RARE UNION DEFENSE COMMITTEE MARKED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

Revised: 3/13/2011

Correction: We can not guarantee inspector markings.

CASED RARE UNION DEFENSE COMMITTEE MARKED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 220777. Cal. 31. Rare martially marked ’49 Pocket with 5″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame is marked “COLTS PATENT” and the large guard brass trigger guard & back strap contain a 1-pc walnut grip with last four digits of SN in back strap channel. Top flat of bbl, at the chamber end, is stamped with a small anchor, the top of back strap is stamped “USN” and the butt strap is stamped “UDC”. Cylinder is stamped perpendicular to the axis of the bore “P / GG”. These are believed to be the inspector initials of Navy inspector Guert Gansevoort. Early in the Civil War arms & equipment to outfit new recruits were in extreme short supply or entangled in government bureaucracy. Therefore numerous towns, cities & states elected to outfit their own troops and the Union Defense Committee, which was formed in New York City at the outbreak of the Civil War, purchased fifty Colt Model 1849 Pocket revolvers and are believed to have delivered them to the Brooklyn & Boston Navy Yards for use by ships’ captains & crew. It is generally reported that these revolvers fell within the 203,000 & 204,000 serial ranges, however there are several instances of identically marked revolvers in other serial ranges. Page 64 of Civil War Small Arms of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, author unknown, states that by 1864 “Twenty Model 1849 Colts had been given by the Navy Yard to the commanding officers of vessels being outfitted for sea.” The bottom half of that page pictures a Colt Model 1849 Pocket with markings identical to the one being offered here and is in the 202,000 serial range. The trigger guard & back strap of this revolver were never silver plated which is indicative of military issue. The G’s stamped on the cyl are unusual in that they appear to be a large capital “C” that have been overstamped at the opening of the “C” with a small “T” to form the letter “G”. The photograph that appears in the referenced publication is stamped in the same manner. Accompanied by a custom mahogany casing with dark blue velvet lining compartmented in bottom for the revolver; a fine “COLTS PATENT” eagle & stars “E PLURIBUS UNUM” 1-sided pocket sized flask; a blued steel “COLT’S PATENT” 2-cavity bullet & ball mold with sprue cutter; marked on right side “31 PKT”; a packet of six Colt Cartridge Works combustible cartridges; a fine lacquered tin of Eley’s caps and an L-shaped nipple wrench. PROVENANCE: Fred B. McDonald Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except wedge which is unnumbered. Bbl retains about 60% thin orig blue with some light hammer marks around wedge slot. Rammer retains faded case colors with faded case colors on pivot. Frame retains 25-30% case colors, brighter in sheltered areas, faded elsewhere. Hammer retains 60-65% faded case colors. Cylinder is mostly a blue/gray patina and retains 40-50% stagecoach holdup scene. Trigger guard & back strap are a medium to dark mustard patina. Grip is sound with minor hammer marks on bottom edges, moderate wear on edges and a couple of gouges on right side and overall retains about 80% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. Case is extremely fine with light handling & storage marks and retains virtually all of its custom finish. Interior is lightly soiled. Flask is very fine, retaining 93-95% strong orig finish. Cap tin is very fine with lightly faded label. Cartridge packet has several ink spots on front with light to moderate soil and is open on three edges. Mold is nicked & dinged and overall retains about 80% orig blue. Nipple wrench is fine. 4-41371 JR654 (5,000-8,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011

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
	2276	$4,025.00	Revised: 3/13/2011 Correction: We can not guarantee inspector markings. CASED RARE UNION DEFENSE COMMITTEE MARKED COLT MODEL 1849 POCKET PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 220777. Cal. 31. Rare martially marked ’49 Pocket with 5″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame is marked “COLTS PATENT” and the large guard brass trigger guard & back strap contain a 1-pc walnut grip with last four digits of SN in back strap channel. Top flat of bbl, at the chamber end, is stamped with a small anchor, the top of back strap is stamped “USN” and the butt strap is stamped “UDC”. Cylinder is stamped perpendicular to the axis of the bore “P / GG”. These are believed to be the inspector initials of Navy inspector Guert Gansevoort. Early in the Civil War arms & equipment to outfit new recruits were in extreme short supply or entangled in government bureaucracy. Therefore numerous towns, cities & states elected to outfit their own troops and the Union Defense Committee, which was formed in New York City at the outbreak of the Civil War, purchased fifty Colt Model 1849 Pocket revolvers and are believed to have delivered them to the Brooklyn & Boston Navy Yards for use by ships’ captains & crew. It is generally reported that these revolvers fell within the 203,000 & 204,000 serial ranges, however there are several instances of identically marked revolvers in other serial ranges. Page 64 of Civil War Small Arms of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, author unknown, states that by 1864 “Twenty Model 1849 Colts had been given by the Navy Yard to the commanding officers of vessels being outfitted for sea.” The bottom half of that page pictures a Colt Model 1849 Pocket with markings identical to the one being offered here and is in the 202,000 serial range. The trigger guard & back strap of this revolver were never silver plated which is indicative of military issue. The G’s stamped on the cyl are unusual in that they appear to be a large capital “C” that have been overstamped at the opening of the “C” with a small “T” to form the letter “G”. The photograph that appears in the referenced publication is stamped in the same manner. Accompanied by a custom mahogany casing with dark blue velvet lining compartmented in bottom for the revolver; a fine “COLTS PATENT” eagle & stars “E PLURIBUS UNUM” 1-sided pocket sized flask; a blued steel “COLT’S PATENT” 2-cavity bullet & ball mold with sprue cutter; marked on right side “31 PKT”; a packet of six Colt Cartridge Works combustible cartridges; a fine lacquered tin of Eley’s caps and an L-shaped nipple wrench. PROVENANCE: Fred B. McDonald Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except wedge which is unnumbered. Bbl retains about 60% thin orig blue with some light hammer marks around wedge slot. Rammer retains faded case colors with faded case colors on pivot. Frame retains 25-30% case colors, brighter in sheltered areas, faded elsewhere. Hammer retains 60-65% faded case colors. Cylinder is mostly a blue/gray patina and retains 40-50% stagecoach holdup scene. Trigger guard & back strap are a medium to dark mustard patina. Grip is sound with minor hammer marks on bottom edges, moderate wear on edges and a couple of gouges on right side and overall retains about 80% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. Case is extremely fine with light handling & storage marks and retains virtually all of its custom finish. Interior is lightly soiled. Flask is very fine, retaining 93-95% strong orig finish. Cap tin is very fine with lightly faded label. Cartridge packet has several ink spots on front with light to moderate soil and is open on three edges. Mold is nicked & dinged and overall retains about 80% orig blue. Nipple wrench is fine. 4-41371 JR654 (5,000-8,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011 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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