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3099

RARE CASED & UNIQUE FLORAL ROCOCO ENGRAVED

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:12,500.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
RARE CASED & UNIQUE FLORAL ROCOCO ENGRAVED
EXPOSITION, COLT LONDON POCKET MODEL PERCUSSION REVOLVER. Cal. 31. S# 26. Bbl. 5". This is a very rare and beautifully engraved Colt Model 1849 most likely made for the Dublin Exposition of 1853. The engraving style is unique with floral and rococo designs. The barrel address is hand engraved in unique small lettering not seen on any other revolver. London proofs were added after engraving as the normal proof on right side of barrel housing is found in unengraved area below wedge slot which is not noted on any other specimens. Deluxe grips are nicely burled with fine color. The casing also has unique carved mother of pearl flower shaped compartment knob not seen on any other specimen. Larry Wilson in his Colt Engraving text shows this gun and states there are three types of London engraving and cites this example as being the rarest if not unique. Gun appears original, complete and authentic as manufactured though serial number on cylinder does not match balance of gun though still two digits “95”. There are other Colt exhibition guns known with unserialized cylinders, this gun possibly was rushed for the exposition and this was the cylinder available. Most likely this is the only Model 1849 with this style of engraving as made for the Dublin Exposition in 1853 and this 2 digit gun was first year produced in London. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: rare early London oak casing; has no provision for cleaning rod, and no mortise cut for bullet mold sprue cutter. Case contains near new Dixon bag flask with virtually all of its original varnish, a 2-cavity "COLTS PATENT" brass bullet mold, L-shaped combination gun tool, original pack of caps with Eley Brothers paper label and original 5-cartridge pack of Colt cartridges. Also included in this lot is a copy of “Fine Colts, The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection”. CONDITION: extremely fine overall, all matching with exception of cylinder as noted. Barrel retains about 95% bright blue finish with crisp markings. Cylinder has traces of thin blue with crisp, complete rolled “Stagecoach Holdup” scene with balance silver/blue patina. Frame and hammer retain most of their original muted case color with balance silver/gray. Trigger guard and backstrap retain virtually all their silver plate. Grips retain virtually all their original factory varnish with light edge wear and a few sm. dents. Accompanying case is very good overall with vacant scalloped brass plaque, blue velvet interior is very good with light fading, there are several repairs to velvet lining wear worn through apparently in revolver compartment, sides to lidded compartment are bowed out slightly with old glued repair. Mold and gun tool are both very good and smooth overall, gun tool retains about half its finish. Cap tin is empty but discernable label, cartridge pack is very good and complete. The pre-Colt contract Dixon flask is excellent retaining virtually all varnish & bright fire blue to spring. PROVENANCE: Raymond Kendall Collection; pictured on pages 230, 239 & 240 of Wilson’s “Colt Engraving Book Volume I” (Though Wilson misidentifies serial number); Pictured on page 87 of the 1999 “Fine Colts, The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection” as frontis showing this example as epitome of English engraving of London Colts. (01-17677/JS). ANTIQUE. $25,000-30,000.
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