2055

RARE CASED & MATCHED PAIR OF CONSECUTIVELY NUMBERED 3RD MODEL COLT DERINGERS WITH EXTREMELY FINE CHE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,250.00 USD Estimated At:6,500.00 - 9,500.00 USD
RARE CASED & MATCHED PAIR OF CONSECUTIVELY NUMBERED 3RD MODEL COLT DERINGERS WITH EXTREMELY FINE CHE
SN 16733 & 16734. 41 cal. short rim fired. This matched pair of 5th variation deringers are finished in the standard blue & nickel finish, except that they have the rarest style grips made for this model gun. They are checkered deluxe grade walnut. Only about 3 pairs are known to exist. Consecutive serial numbered pairs are also seldom seen. The casing is not factory but is old & was probably done by a jeweler or merchant at their time of sale. PROVENANCE: Herbert Ratner, Jr. Collection, L.D. Eberhart Collection. CONDITION: SN 16733 is finished with 100% nickel over the brass frame & the mark "41 CAL" on the left side of the frame. There is 98% nickel remaining. The bbl retains 90% of orig bright blue with only losses a little at the muzzle & some on each side from storage. The hammer & trigger both retain most of their orig case colors. All screw heads are fire blued & most retain that coloration. They are equipped with the rarest style of Colt grips, being checkered deluxe walnut. The checkering is very sharp & has some small bruising. SN 16734 appears to be the gun that the orig owner carried somewhat more as is the case with most cased pairs, one will have more wear than the other. The frame retains 95% of the orig nickel. The trigger & hammer retain 90% of orig case colors. The bbl which is blued retains 60% of the orig bright blue with fading occuring in some of the wear spots around the muzzle & ejector housing. All the blued screws have their fire blue color with the same style deluxe walnut checkered grips which appear to be nearly perfect, with very little bruising. The case which is a 19th century-style gun casing is not a Colt factory casing but is of the period & old. They have been known to exist since the early 1950s. It is presumed that this casing was done by a merchant or jeweler at the time of their orig sale. 4-47445 DE65