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Civil War Gettysburg Colt 1862 .36 Police Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:1,900.00 - 2,800.00 USD
Civil War Gettysburg Colt 1862 .36 Police Revolver
Included in this lot is an early Civil War Manufacture Colt five-shot .36 caliber percussion Model 1862 Police Revolver found at the Battle of Gettysburg from the Civil War. This revolver features a 5 1/2" long round barrel, blue'd refinish, walnut grips, and brass accents. It bears the serial number 15654, which is matching on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, and arbor. The Model 1862 was a popular weapon that bridged the gap between the small .31 caliber pocket model Colt and the larger, more cumbersome full-size Army and Navy holster revolvers. It made a fine belt revolver or could be carried concealed under a coat. One of the best descriptions of the Colt 1862 Police revolver is presented by Norm Flayderman in his classic work, “Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms”, stating, “The Model 1862 Police is considered by many collectors as the ultimate in streamline design by Colt’s factory in the percussion period. Due to slow sales and the demand for metallic cartridge arms, several thousand of the late production of the Model 1862 Police and the Pocket Navy were converted from percussion to cartridge use. The result has been to add to the desirability of these arms in their original cap and ball configuration.” With only approximately 48,000 of this model, in all forms, being produced over 150 years ago; surviving examples are scarce, especially in this fine state of preservation and originality. This becomes apparent when compared to the numbers produced by other models, such as Colt Model1849- approx. 300,000; Colt Model1851- over 215,000; Colt Model1860- approximately 200,500. The piece is marked across the top of the barrel in faded letting, reading "Colts MG Colt New-York U.S. America", with the side of the frame marked "Colts Patent 36 Cal" and the cylinder marked in faded lettering. This revolver displays heavy pitting across the barrel, hammer, and fluted cylinder. The walnut grips display wear and a warm patina. The revolver was found in 1885 by the grandfather of Historian John (Jack) Evens while he was plowing his field in Gettysburg. Jack Evens was a historian and librarian at the eastern Oregon University and was the author of "Powerful Rocky A Diary of Crossing the Oregon Trail". The revolver shows the wear due to age and being buried with a fresh finish. This firearm qualifies as an antique and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.