1451

VERY RARE CASED WALCH BRASS FRAME PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
VERY RARE CASED WALCH BRASS FRAME PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
SN 1274. Cal. 31. Rare revolver with 3-1/4" oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 2-line address. Revolver has a sheath or spur trigger. Mounted with smooth 2-pc walnut grips that may be old period of use replacements. This revolver was a curiosity of its day with its 2-1/4" long 5-chamber cyl and ten nipples with two hammers. It was designed for superposed loads in each chamber and to have the right hammer fire first discharging the front charge followed by the left hammer which discharges the rear charge. According to Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms there were approx. 3,000 of these rare revolvers produced with both brass & iron frames in the period 1860-1862, many of them private purchased by officers & soldiers during the Civil War. Company I of the 9th Michigan Infantry is reported to have been armed with these revolvers where it received favorable comments. The referenced publication shows that there were two frame types of this revolver, brass as is found here and an iron frame model which is slightly more rare. Accompanied by an orig, burgundy velvet lined, mahogany casing compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a dbl sided eagle & stars Colt pocket model flask, a brass 2-cavity bullet & ball "COLTS PATENT" mold without sprue cutter, a tin of Eley's caps, several cast lead balls and a functioning key. These revolvers in any configuration are rare but cased examples are nearly unknown. PROVENANCE: Barnes Family Collection. CONDITION: Revolver is good. The steel parts retain a very dark attic patina with a few cleaned spots on the bbl and lighter spots on the cylinder with scattered light pitting; brass frame shows a few nicks & dings and a small casting flaw below the left recoil shield. Grips are sound showing light wear and a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with fine frosty pitting. Bottom of the case has a grain check, otherwise is sound with usual handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish around the edges and a wiped-on finish on the top; interior is heavily faded with heavy soil in the bottom and solid partitions; mold & flask show heavy wear with nicks & dings; cap tin has tape around the outer diameter. 4-47662 JR203