VERY RARE COLT 1ST MODEL 1855 PERCUSSION REVOLVING CARBINE FROM THE U.S. CARTRIDGE COLLECTION.

VERY RARE COLT 1ST MODEL 1855 PERCUSSION REVOLVING CARBINE FROM THE U.S. CARTRIDGE COLLECTION. SN 534. Cal. 36. Standard early carbine with 18″ oct to rnd bbl, tiny dovetailed iron front sight and squirrel ear rear sight in top strap with Colt’s 2-line address and the date “1856” on top flat of bbl. It has 6-shot unfluted rifle cyl with the rolled deer hunting scene. Left side of bbl lug has a Colt oiler and the trigger guard has finger rest ears fore and aft of the trigger bow. Left side of bbl and left rear side of frame have mounts that contain an orig cleaning rod. Mounted with very nicely figured, uncheckered, American walnut buttstock with crescent buttplate. Both sides of wrist at the receiver are stamped “1573”, the property mark of The U.S. Cartridge Company Collection. SN was observed on bottom of frame, bottom tang, cyl & toe of buttplate. Buttstock was not marked under the buttplate however there is no doubt that this is the orig buttstock. Accompanied by copies of pp. 70-71 of the Catalogue Firearms Collection, United States Cartridge Co. which shows a Colt Revolving Carbine as Item #278 which, in the description on p. 71, lists it as caliber 36. The carbine in the picture has a rifle cylinder rather than the normal full fluted cylinder leading one to speculate that this is a picture of this carbine. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms and The Book of Colt Firearms, Sutherland & Wilson, only about 4,435 carbines were produced in period 1856-64 in five separate calibers each with its own serial ranges all beginning with #1. Of this total number, only 1000 1st Models were produced and only 50-75 1st Model guns with 18″ bbls, making this little carbine very rare indeed. PROVENANCE: Jim Eplen Coll. CONDITION: Very fine plus. Bbl retains 93-95% strong orig blue with scattered light surface etching. Receiver retains about 70% strong orig blue, thinning on right side of bbl lug and bottom of frame. Top tang is a blue/gray patina and bottom tang is cracked through the front trigger guard screw hole. Wood is sound with usual handling & use nicks & scratches and retains about 95% strong orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. 4-37500 JR366 (15,000-25,000)

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
	2280	$20,125.00	VERY RARE COLT 1ST MODEL 1855 PERCUSSION REVOLVING CARBINE FROM THE U.S. CARTRIDGE COLLECTION. SN 534. Cal. 36. Standard early carbine with 18″ oct to rnd bbl, tiny dovetailed iron front sight and squirrel ear rear sight in top strap with Colt’s 2-line address and the date “1856” on top flat of bbl. It has 6-shot unfluted rifle cyl with the rolled deer hunting scene. Left side of bbl lug has a Colt oiler and the trigger guard has finger rest ears fore and aft of the trigger bow. Left side of bbl and left rear side of frame have mounts that contain an orig cleaning rod. Mounted with very nicely figured, uncheckered, American walnut buttstock with crescent buttplate. Both sides of wrist at the receiver are stamped “1573”, the property mark of The U.S. Cartridge Company Collection. SN was observed on bottom of frame, bottom tang, cyl & toe of buttplate. Buttstock was not marked under the buttplate however there is no doubt that this is the orig buttstock. Accompanied by copies of pp. 70-71 of the Catalogue Firearms Collection, United States Cartridge Co. which shows a Colt Revolving Carbine as Item #278 which, in the description on p. 71, lists it as caliber 36. The carbine in the picture has a rifle cylinder rather than the normal full fluted cylinder leading one to speculate that this is a picture of this carbine. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms and The Book of Colt Firearms, Sutherland & Wilson, only about 4,435 carbines were produced in period 1856-64 in five separate calibers each with its own serial ranges all beginning with #1. Of this total number, only 1000 1st Models were produced and only 50-75 1st Model guns with 18″ bbls, making this little carbine very rare indeed. PROVENANCE: Jim Eplen Coll. CONDITION: Very fine plus. Bbl retains 93-95% strong orig blue with scattered light surface etching. Receiver retains about 70% strong orig blue, thinning on right side of bbl lug and bottom of frame. Top tang is a blue/gray patina and bottom tang is cracked through the front trigger guard screw hole. Wood is sound with usual handling & use nicks & scratches and retains about 95% strong orig factory varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. 4-37500 JR366 (15,000-25,000) 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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