1089

Rare, Historic and Fine Colt Fluck Dragoon Revolver Issued to the 2nd Mounted U.S. Rifles and Later

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:15,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
Rare, Historic and Fine Colt Fluck Dragoon Revolver Issued to the 2nd Mounted U.S. Rifles and Later
Buyer's Premium is 20.5% by credit card, reduced to 18% if payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer. Contact Rock Island Auction Company to complete your registration with the auction house.
Rare, Historic and Fine Colt Fluck Dragoon Revolver Issued to the 2nd Mounted U.S. Rifles and Later the Personal Sidearm of George Kippen a Significant 1849er

This is an extremely rare Colt First Model "Fluck" Dragoon Percussion Revolver as issued to the Second U. S. Mounted Rifles in the spring of 1849, with later ?49er? Gold Rush documentation. Never presented for sale to the collecting fraternity until this auction, it is reasonable to assume it to be the most historic of this rare variation ever brought to public sale. The consignor spent 3 years researching this revolver until finally finding the rock-solid evidence of its period ownership. "KIPPEN. 1853." is handsomely carved on the right side of the grip and the top of the back strap and butt are stamped with a very small but professional italicized mark reading, ?G. Kippen". This historically significant and truly fine condition ?Fluck? Dragoon Revolver was undoubtedly carried by a member of the Second U. S. Mounted Rifles on their journey to Oregon, leaving Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in the spring of 1849. The second contract of Fluck Revolvers were issued to this unit on their expedition. It is known that after the discovery of gold in California, several of these troopers deserted over the next several months and many others were transferred to forts to the South. During extensive research, no ?G. Kippen? was found to have served in any branch of the U.S. military, and thus the search for the ?Kippen Fluck? continued until earlier this year when a routine internet search for ?G. Kippen? uncovered an antique silver spoon for sale on Ebay. The back of the spoon was stamped with a common style of silversmith touchmark that was bold and clear ?G. Kippen.? The exact same touchmark on the straps of our Fluck Dragoon! Mystery solved! Research on the touchmark found that George Kippen was a silversmith by trade and worked with his father in Bridgeport, Connecticut, until gold was discovered in California. The California Gold Rush of 1849 significantly changed America during the first half of the 19th century. Thousands of people traveled to San Francisco and the surrounding area in the pursuit of gold. The journey to San Francisco, whether by land or sea, was daunting. Nonetheless, gold fever resulted in a remarkable population boom of the California territory which reached some 100,000 non-natives by the end of 1849. Prior to 1848 this figure was less than 1,000! Kippen was part of a group of gold-seeking ?49ers? that became shipwrecked while sailing around Cape Horn for San Francisco. The details and location of the shipwreck are not known but the group eventually made it to "the central metropolis of the new frontier." With a company of others, Kippen assisted in operating a mine north of Sacramento constructing canals and sluices to carry water. The project was a failure and abandoned, but Kippen continued in California and would operate in both the north and south of the state, a true gold-seeking ?49er?! He would go on to become one of the original members of the Arizona Copper Mining Company in 1854 and resided in Arizona until his death in 1868 at the age of forty-nine. Further research has found that while Kippen was attached to the Arizona Copper Mining Company, he resided at Fort Yuma, Arizona Territory. Others at the Fort included members of the U.S. military, including Levi C. Bootes, a soldier that the consigner recalled as being in the Mounted Rifles from previous research. It is almost certain that Kippen received this gun from a soldier or directly from the Military for his personal protection and use. A period New York Newspaper reported that Kippen once assisted authorities attempting to track down two murderers. In 1857 a Christopher Forchet was repeatedly stabbed and the severity of the attack left his right arm nearly removed, his chest opened and his lungs punctured. Kippen assisted Forchet to the hospital at Fort Yuma. Once able to speak, Forchet told his rescuers that he and his two traveling companions had been attacked by two Mexicans that had been traveling with them. The paper further reported that Kippen and another man went looking for the attackers "armed with Sharps rifles and six shooters." After nearly 6 hours of searching Kippen and his riding partner found the dead Canadians who were "literally chopped in pieces." The newspaper reported that the motive of the attack was likely over money. Over $1,000 in cash was being carried between the three Canadians. Forchet, however, was still in possession of his $800.00 when he was brought to Fort Yuma. The fate of the murderers is unknown. Note that the newspaper reported that Kippen and his partner carried six shooters when they went searching for the murderers. We can only speculate, but it is probable that this six shot Colt Dragoon was with Kippen during this manhunt. Kippen does mention the incident in his diary stating, "Did not succeed in overtaking [the two murderers], but found the bodies of the murdered men about 23 miles from Ft. Yuma. The most horribly cut men that I ever saw!! Buried them as well as circumstances would permit and returned to Ft. Yuma." At the time of his death, Kippen managed a branch of the mercantile firm of George F. Hooper & Company at Fort McDowell. An Arizona newspaper reported Kippen?s death with great sorrow, stating that Kippen was "a man noted for his loyalty, upright conduct and steady attention to business. He won the esteem of his employers?He was a man of generous impulses, of noble sentiments, and has many friends in this territory and in California to mourn his death." Kippen was buried at Fort McDowell where his gravestone can still be seen today. Also of note is that Kippen?s original diary is held by the Arizona State Archives. Transcripts of the diary are included with the revolver and provide a glimpse into the daily life of the period and place. Further research should be performed on this historic Colt and George Kippen. As stated the revolver is a Fluck Model, Second U.S. contract revolver. The Fluck Dragoons are believed to have been manufactured by Colt with some re-worked Walker parts and little documentation exists on these pistols. Only 125 or so of these revolvers of the Second U.S. contract are known to museums and collectors, making their survival rate perhaps the lowest of all large frame Martial Colt Percussion Revolvers and no serious collection is complete without one. The serial number range is from 2000 to 3000. The configuration and serial numbers match the specifications of U.S. second contract revolvers. The "COLT'S/PATENT/U.S." marking is centered on the left side of the frame as were other guns of this contract. The serial number stamps are of a very small size, similar to the Walker as contrasted to those used later by Colt. The placing of the numbers, two on the left and two on the right side of the forward trigger guard screw, is consistent with other known examples and the factory address on the barrel reads from the breech towards the muzzle. Major components of the revolver are stamped with the letter "P" representing the last name of U.S. Government Sub-inspector Nahum W. Patch, who also inspected the famed Walker Revolvers. He is listed in Government records as an Army sub-inspector for the years 1831 until 1849. The letter "P" is marked on the left side of the barrel, trigger guard, back strap and on the cylinder next to the serial number. The matching serial number appears on the barrel, frame, grip straps and cylinder. The loading lever has the number "377". Note: A Fluck Dragoon described as very good to fine condition recently sold for over $75,000.00 with no original finish and no history.

Manufucture: Colt
Model: Dragoon
BBL: 7 1/2 inch part octagon
Stock:
Guage: 44 percussion
Finish: blue/casehardened/silver
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 2848

Fine and an extreme rarity in this condition for a Fluck. The barrel showing generous traces of original blue mixing with brown patina, mostly in protected areas. The cylinder scene is crisp and nearly complete, with original blue about the serial number and motifs and all characters of the Dragoon and Indian fight scene are visible. The frame and loading lever have a mottled gray patina mixing with silvery case colors. There is some light spotting and a few small patches of minor pitting. The brass has areas of dark aged patina. The grip has indentations (left side), a couple chips missing at the heel and some minor handling marks. Mechanically fine. A remarkably historic Colt Fluck Dragoon revolver with U.S. military, California Gold Rush and Western Frontier use.