1281

RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT THIRD MODEL ENGLISH DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:15,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT THIRD MODEL ENGLISH DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
SN 125. Cal. 44. Usual configuration with 7-1/2" oct to rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New York City address. Left side of frame has "COLTS PATENT" engraved in ribbon. Cyl is usual 6 shots with Dragoon Indian Fight Scene roll marking. Left side of the bbl lug and cyl have British proofs and 5 of the 6 safety pins are serviceable. The silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a spectacular burl walnut 1-pc grip with matching number in the backstrap channel. Grip also has the unusual feature of a screw through diamond shaped steel escutcheons. Revolver is beautifully engraved in English scrolls on sides of frame with foliate and floral decorations on recoil shields. Hammer spur has matching foliate arabesque patterns on sides with fishtail engraving on top edge and hand cut checkering on spur. Matching foliate arabesque patterns are engraved on bbl lug and rammer pivot with feather borders around bbl lug and a rosette around the pivot screw. Top of backstrap is engraved in a beautiful fan pattern with foliate arabesque patterns down the backstap, on the butt strap and trigger guard. According to information recently read by this cataloger, there is no known reason for the diamond shaped escutcheons in the grip although several have been observed in English dragoon grips. Accompanied by a blue velvet lined English oak casing with brass medallion in lid and compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a Hawksley adjustable spout, bag shaped flask, a rare brass 2-cavity bullet and ball mold with "COLTS PATENT" sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench, a lacquered tin of Joyce's caps with repoussed brass top, a small screw-top bone bits box, a Dixon pewter oil bottle and a functioning key. This exact revolver, identified by serial number, is pictured in its case, on pp. 232 and 233 of The Colt Engraving Book, Volume 1, Wilson. Mr. Wilson makes note of the "rare reenforcing bolster and screw" in the grip. This is the only single revolver that received a 2-pg color spread in this book. An identically engraved Third Model English Dragoon, serial number 129,also cased identically, appears as plate 34 on pg 61 of Samuel Colt Presents, Wilson. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, only about 700 of these English dragoons were produced, mostly from Hartford-made parts, in the period 1853-1857. In 1860 Col. Colt ordered that "many thousand arms" be shipped to the US (from the London Armory) to supply the looming Civil War, among which were approximately 200 dragoons, several of which were engraved. These revolvers were then sold on the American market, primarily to the government and also private sales. PROVENANCE: Dr. John M. Pickup Collection. CONDITION: Revolver is very good to fine, all matching, with bbl retaining 20-25% orig blue and the balance a cleaned gray metal patina with a few scattered spots of light rust and light pinprick pitting on the bbl lug. Frame retains dark case colors on the sides with the recoil shields faded to silver. Hammer is a matching silver patina. Cyl is a cleaned, mottled silver gray patina with scattered fine pitting and shows 20-25% faint Dragoon Indian Fight Scene. Trigger guard and backstrap retain about all of their strong silver plating. Grip is sound with a few light handling and use nicks and scratches and overall retains nearly all of its strong orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. Case has a few grain checks in the bottom, otherwise is sound with usual light handling and storage nicks and scratches, showing wear around the edges, and retains about 80% orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded with moderate soil from contact with cyl and bbl, with light damage from front sight and hammer spur. Flask is fine with a couple of tiny dents; mold has light nicks and scratches with crisp cavities and heat colored sprue cutter; other accessories are fine. 4-46454 JR112