2167

VERY RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:12,500.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
VERY RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1862 POLICE PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
SN 41291. Cal. .36. Blue and color case hardened with 5-1/2" rnd bbl. Brass pin front sight & 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame is engraved "COLT'S PATENT" in a pillow shape. Silver-plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-pc orig ivory grip, matching numbered to revolver. Revolver is beautifully engraved in late vine style, probably by Gustave Young, with some scrolls terminating in flower blossoms. Engraving extends over sides of bbl and around address, on backstrap, buttstrap and trigger guard. Both sides of hammer nose are engraved in wolf's head patterns. Cylinder is 1/2 fluted with 5 chambers. Accompanied by orig, spectacular, brass-bound green baize-lined rosewood casing with brass plaque in top engraved with initials "C.A.". Interior is French-fitted for revolver, fine dbl-sided eagle & shield flask, presentation quality highly polished blued steel 2-cavity Colt's Patent mold with sprue cutter marked on right side "36P", L-shaped nipple wrench and lacquered tin of Goldmark's caps. Covered compartment in right rear contains lead, bullet & balls. According to Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms, there were only about 28,000 of these scarce revolvers produced in the period 1861 through 1873 when they were supplanted by the advent of cartridge revolvers. Engraved & cased examples of this model are extremely rare with only a few known and surviving examples are rarely found with high orig finish. PROVENANCE: Michael Leff Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching inc. wedge, cylinder & grip. Bbl retains about 50% glossy orig blue with balance having flaked, not worn, to a dark patina. Rammer handle retains strong case colors, bright on pivot. Frame & hammer retain strong, bright case colors. Cylinder retains about 70% orig blue, strong & bright in flutes with strong blue in chambers. Trigger guard & backstrap retain thin orig silver-plating. Grip is crisp with sharp edges and wonderful dark ivory patina. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Screws are crisp and retain most orig blue. Case is sound with usual storage & handling nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is moderately faded with light soil inside lid & moderate to heavy soil in bottom. Accessories are all fine. A wonderful & rare set. 4-49641 JR7