1086

Extremely Rare Historic Cased Presentation Colt No. 3 Belt Model Paterson Revolver with Original and

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:140,000.00 USD Estimated At:275,000.00 - 450,000.00 USD
Extremely Rare Historic Cased Presentation Colt No. 3 Belt Model Paterson Revolver with Original and
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This extremely rare, factory cased presentation, Colt No. 3 Belt Model Paterson revolver was manufactured somewhere between 1837 and 1840. The revolver is complete with a factory mahogany case with beveled lid and brown velvet lining, extra cylinder and full complement of accessories. The revolver has a blue finish on the barrel, cylinder and frame and is fitted with a varnished, walnut grip with flared butt. Both of the five-shot cylinders have round shoulders and are roll-engraved with "Colt", the four horse-head trademark and the Centaur and Horsemen scene. The octagon barrel has a nickel-silver front sight blade and no provision for a loading lever. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "-Patent Arms M'g Co. Paterson N-J Colts Pt-" reading from the breech to the bore. The serial number, "659" is stamped on the front of the barrel lug below the arbor pin hole, the bottom of the wedge, the rear face of both cylinders, on the left side of the trigger and on the butt of the left grip. A larger numeral "6" is stamped on the rear face of both cylinders and on the cylinder turning ring. The top of the beveled case lid is inlaid with a silver plate inscribed: "W. Watson/from A. P.". After further research "A.P." can be identified as Andrew Parsons. Andrew Parsons appears as a stock holder, owning 10 shares in Patent Arms Manufacturing Company in August of 1837. This stock holder list now resides in the Connecticut Historical society but is listed on page 208 and 209 of Paterson Colt Pistol Variations by Phillips and Wilson. Mr. Parsons served in the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature which was established under the New Jersey Constitution of 1776. The legislative council replaced the New Jersey Provential Council which had been the Upper house under colonial rule. The Provential council consisted of twelve members appointed by and serving under the British crown. This body was overwhelmingly aristocratic so in 1776 when the state drafted a new Constitution it provided an elected legislative council with one member of council elected in each county for a one year term. One member of the council was elected Vice President of the council and would succeed the Governor if a vacancy occurred in the office. Mr. Parsons served two consecutive terms as Vice President of Council of the New Jersey Legislature 1837, and 1838. 1837 is of course the same year Mr. Parsons is listed as a minority share holder in the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company. Even more interesting is that Mr. Parsons was elected from Passic County, the same county where Paterson New Jersey is located. Now on to the initials "W.Watson." to whom this cased pistol was presented. After further research we can identify "W.Watson." was a Mr. William Watson. Mr. Watson was an attorney from New York city and is cited for working on Colts behalf in the same book noted above; Paterson Colt Pistol Variations by Phillips and Wilson page 160. By the late 1830's the Patent Manufacturing Company was doing worse and worse. Further Samuel Colt was growing further in debt in the Company and by that point a man by the name of John Ehlers had become the majority shareholder in the Company. As Colt struggled to secure government contract or capture a share of the civilian market Ehlers and Colt often clashed over the direction of the company. It was during one of these clashes that attorney William Watson was authorized on Colts behalf to compose a letter to Mr. Ehlers. The clash occurred over a 100 carbine order that was placed by the state of New Jersey. As Wilson writes "Ehlers and Colt became embroiled over differences on the matter of accounting, and was further aggravated by Colt's use of a $100 draft from Ehlers for security payment of board with his landlady in Washington: Ehlers did not honor the draft" which is when Mr. William Watson working on Colts behalf was asked to draft a letter to "ascertain that Mr. Ehlers is good for the amount, and proceeded forthwith if you must" While the connection between to two men is not entirely clear, it is clear that both men have strong associations with the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company and Samuel Colt himself at approximately the same time. Furthermore with Andrew Parsons strong political associations in the state of New Jersey, he was of course in position to succeed the governor, and the State of New Jerseys recent purchase of 100 Paterson Carbines which William Watson acting as Colt attorney during the accounting "dispute", the pistol could have been presented at this time possibly as payment or simply showing gratitude, which Samuel Colt was known for. Why it was presented from "A.P." may point to Colts debt issues or the fact that many of the lesser share holders were not thrilled with the direction John Ehlers wished to take the company. The case contains: (1) extra cylinder mounted on a wooden dowel, (2) iron, single cavity, round ball bullet mold with three wooden handles, (3) Paterson combination tool with ball-seater, screwdriver, nipple wrench and nipple pick, (4) cleaning rod with turned wooden handle, brass ferrule and 5 1/2-inch steel shaft with threaded end, (5) brass Paterson cap primer (capper), (6) Paterson No.3 Belt Model charger and (7) key. The accessories are secured by wire retainers. The capper is the first pattern (CP#1 Rapley) with the lid embossed with the Rampant Colt, crossed Paterson revolvers and "COLT'S PATENT ARMS MANg. CO.PATERSON N.J." in a double border around the edge of the lid. The lid die has a crack running through the horses mane and the "N" in "PATENT". The back of the capper lid has a locking post and swivel bar. The charger is 5 1/2 inches long with a copper body and three gold-plated brass rings. The upper and lower rings are knurled and the center ring is inscribed: "PATENT ARMS M'G. CO.PATERSON, N.J. COLT'S PT.".
BBL: 5 1/2 inch octagon
Stock:
Gauge: 31 percussion
Finish: blue
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 659
Condition: Very fine. The revolver and accessories are all original and in fine overall condition. The frame and grip straps retain 60% of the original high polish blue finish. Strong traces of the original blue finish are present on protected areas of the barrel; the balance is a smooth dark patina. The barrel markings are sharp. Both cylinders show moderate-heavy flash pitting on the faces and percussion nipples. The cylinders retain approximately 50% of the delicately roll-engraved Centaur and Horsemen scene. There is light flash pitting on the recoil shields and face of the trigger and heavier pitting on the sides of the hammer and in the hammer well. The grip is in very fine condition with 70% of the original varnish finish showing only scattered minor scratches. The case exterior shows moderate storage and handling wear with scattered light dents and scratches. The case appears to have been re-varnished during the period of use. The dark brown felt interior is in very good overall condition. Wear is primarily limited to compression marks and rust stains from contact with the revolver and accessories. The bullet mold, combination tool and cleaning rod are all in fine original condition; the metal surfaces all have a dark patina with scattered minor pitting. The capper has a dark un-polished patina with some minor attractive age discoloration. The detail on the face of the capper remains sharp. The rare Paterson Belt Model No. 3 charger is complete and in fine condition. The copper charger body has attractive dark patina. Considerable gold-plated finish is present on the brass top of the charger; the balance of the brass rings have an attractive patina. The markings on the center ring are excellent. Colt manufactured approximately 450 No. 3 Revolvers at the Paterson New Jersey factory; serial numbers run to about 850 but include the No. 2 Revolver which accounts for slightly less than half of the serial number range. The Colt Paterson revolvers are historically important as the first successful revolving repeating arms and the first Colt firearms. This is an extraordinary example of a rare Colt No.3 Belt Model Paterson revolver with equally rare original case, capper flask, accessories and history. Very few cased Paterson pistols are known to exist and of the few many will remain in museum collections for many life times. Presentation Paterson pistols are of the rarest commodity known to firearms collectors and this may be a once in a lifetime chance to own one.