RARE INSCRIBED COLT THIRD MODEL HARTFORD/LONDON DRAGOON REVOLVER.

RARE INSCRIBED COLT THIRD MODEL HARTFORD/LONDON DRAGOON REVOLVER. SN 566. Cal. 44. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ oct to rnd bbl with German silver front sight and one-line New York City address. Rammer has vertical latch. It has usual 6-shot cylinder with Ranger/Indian fight scene. Cylinder and bbl lug have British proofs. Left side of frame is marked “COLT.S PATENT” and it has rnd brass trigger guard and backstrap containing a varnished 1-pc walnut grip. Backstrap has two holes for the early style hook shoulder stock and the grip has a through hole about centered toward the butt end, probably for a lanyard for use on horseback. Backstrap is inscribed in period script “J.P. McNamara / Bengal Yoemanry Cavalry” and the buttstrap is inscribed “AD 1857”. This small unit was raised in Calcutta at the end of July 1857, from young military officers just arrived from Britain, those left unemployed by the Mutiny of their regiments, clerks, midshipmen from the P&O and other companies’ ships, indigo planters and other Europeans. They mustered 258 men under Col Richardson CB. They served in 14 engagements and were given a name by the rebels: Shaitan-i-Pultan (Devils of Pultan). They were disbanded after the Mutiny and thanked by the Governor-General for their distinguished service. The referenced mutiny occurred over most of Northern India in 1857 with the Sepoy and Sowar armies who had been under British Army leadership for the East India Company. The Indians had become restive under the East India Company annexation of various principalities in India under Governor General Ramsey’s attempts to modernize and Europeanize the Indian Continent. The final straw that exploded into mutiny was the introduction of a new rifle and paper cartridges that were lubricated with tallow made from beef and pork fat, which was abhorrent to Hindus and Muslims alike, the soldiers who comprised most of the East India Company armies. When various units refused to even handle the cartridges, let alone tear them open with their teeth, the British officers considered this a mutiny, and on March 29th the first shots were fired with an Indian soldier killing a British Sargent Major and a Lieutenant. The fighting lasted from about January 1857 until late 1858 when the East India Company was replaced by the British Government and apparently ended in April 1859 with the execution of some of the mutiny leaders. This was an extremely famous chapter in British military history with numerous feats of heroism by British troops and officers with many medals awarded over those two years. PROVENANCE: Ted Knee Collection CONDITION: Very good to fine, all matching including wedge, grip was too oil-stained to see numbers. No original finish remains being an even medium-gray patina with light to moderate pitting on the right side of the bbl. Cylinder is also a gray patina with “MODEL U.S.M.R. / COLT’S PATENT” legend thin but completely visible, and the Ornsby legend also visible, and overall retains 40-50% Ranger/Indian fight scene. Frame and grip frame are fine with the trigger and backstrap retaining a medium mustard patina. Grip has a chipped right toe with the aforementioned hole and retains about 60% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore with two or three small spots of pitting. Undoubtedly, this revolver saw service during the Mutiny of 1857-59 and probably saw some heavy fighting. 4-36573 JR318 (8,000-12,000)

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
	2295	$9,200.00	RARE INSCRIBED COLT THIRD MODEL HARTFORD/LONDON DRAGOON REVOLVER. SN 566. Cal. 44. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ oct to rnd bbl with German silver front sight and one-line New York City address. Rammer has vertical latch. It has usual 6-shot cylinder with Ranger/Indian fight scene. Cylinder and bbl lug have British proofs. Left side of frame is marked “COLT.S PATENT” and it has rnd brass trigger guard and backstrap containing a varnished 1-pc walnut grip. Backstrap has two holes for the early style hook shoulder stock and the grip has a through hole about centered toward the butt end, probably for a lanyard for use on horseback. Backstrap is inscribed in period script “J.P. McNamara / Bengal Yoemanry Cavalry” and the buttstrap is inscribed “AD 1857”. This small unit was raised in Calcutta at the end of July 1857, from young military officers just arrived from Britain, those left unemployed by the Mutiny of their regiments, clerks, midshipmen from the P&O and other companies’ ships, indigo planters and other Europeans. They mustered 258 men under Col Richardson CB. They served in 14 engagements and were given a name by the rebels: Shaitan-i-Pultan (Devils of Pultan). They were disbanded after the Mutiny and thanked by the Governor-General for their distinguished service. The referenced mutiny occurred over most of Northern India in 1857 with the Sepoy and Sowar armies who had been under British Army leadership for the East India Company. The Indians had become restive under the East India Company annexation of various principalities in India under Governor General Ramsey’s attempts to modernize and Europeanize the Indian Continent. The final straw that exploded into mutiny was the introduction of a new rifle and paper cartridges that were lubricated with tallow made from beef and pork fat, which was abhorrent to Hindus and Muslims alike, the soldiers who comprised most of the East India Company armies. When various units refused to even handle the cartridges, let alone tear them open with their teeth, the British officers considered this a mutiny, and on March 29th the first shots were fired with an Indian soldier killing a British Sargent Major and a Lieutenant. The fighting lasted from about January 1857 until late 1858 when the East India Company was replaced by the British Government and apparently ended in April 1859 with the execution of some of the mutiny leaders. This was an extremely famous chapter in British military history with numerous feats of heroism by British troops and officers with many medals awarded over those two years. PROVENANCE: Ted Knee Collection CONDITION: Very good to fine, all matching including wedge, grip was too oil-stained to see numbers. No original finish remains being an even medium-gray patina with light to moderate pitting on the right side of the bbl. Cylinder is also a gray patina with “MODEL U.S.M.R. / COLT’S PATENT” legend thin but completely visible, and the Ornsby legend also visible, and overall retains 40-50% Ranger/Indian fight scene. Frame and grip frame are fine with the trigger and backstrap retaining a medium mustard patina. Grip has a chipped right toe with the aforementioned hole and retains about 60% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore with two or three small spots of pitting. Undoubtedly, this revolver saw service during the Mutiny of 1857-59 and probably saw some heavy fighting. 4-36573 JR318 (8,000-12,000) 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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