This is a rare and highly desirable example of a Colt Paterson Second Model ring lever rifle. Colt manufactured approximately 500 of these rifles between 1838-1841. The rifle has the distinctive ring on the bottom of the frame ahead of the trigger guard to rotate the cylinder and cock the internal hammer, and the Second Model frame correctly without a top strap. This example is the "Improved Model" with a loading lever mounted to the right and has the matching serial number "486" on the wedge, barrel lug, cylinder, turning ring, and toe. Fitted with a leather sling. Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection

Good with gray and brown patina, period shortened barrel, oxidation, pitting, a faint crack in the ring for the loading lever, absent rear wedge, repaired chip and some cracks in the buttstock, and moderate overall wear including dents and scratches. Mechanically fine. A solid representative example of one of the rare early Colt Paterson ring lever rifles.