Rare Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer Sporting Rifle manufactured circa 1863. This rifle is illustrated and described on pages 95, 96 and 97 of "FINE COLTS: THE DR. JOSEPH A. MURPHY COLLECTION" by R.L. Wilson. The rifle has a .44 caliber, six-shot, cylinder, full length forearm with brass tip and rare gutta percha cleaning rod with knurled brass head. The barrel is fitted with a nickel-silver front sight blade on a dovetail mounted iron base and a folding, two leaf rear sight with leaves marked, "200" and "600". The face of the 600 yard leaf is stamped with the barrel length "24" and the caliber "44". The receiver tang is fitted with an extremely rare Colt folding tang sight. The rifle has sling swivels on the lower barrel band and lower tang and is complete with a russet leather, factory, military style sling. The rifle top strap is roll-stamped: " COL. COLT HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." in one-line reading towards the hammer. "COLT"S PATENT" is stamped in an arch over "NOV. 24th 1857" on the left side of the frame above the hammer pin. "44CAL" is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard bow. "PATENTED SEPT. 10th 1850" is stamped in one cylinder flute. The serial number, "2309" is visible on the lower tang, the bottom of the frame, and the toe of the buttplate. All of the visible serial numbers match. The rifle has a military blue finish on the barrel with high polish commercial blue finish on the barrels bands, frame, cylinder, trigger guard and crescent buttplate. The hammer, loading lever and cylinder pin are color casehardened. The sight blades, trigger, small parts and screws have a fire blue finish. The stock and forearm are nicely figured American walnut with a high polish piano finish.

Excellent. The rifle is all original and retains 90% of the bright original high polish blue and vivid color casehardened finish. The cylinder and percussion nipples show no flash pitting or firing wear. Nearly all of the military blue finish is present on the barrel and the upper and lower barrel bands retain almost all of the high polish blue finish. The frame has about 75% of the high polish blue finish with flaking on the left side around the base pin and recoil shield. Most of the high polish blue finish has flaked from the cylinder. The exposed surfaces of the frame and cylinder have a smooth, dull blue, patina. The trigger guard shows light handling wear. Most of the finish has flaked on the crescent steel buttplate leaving a smooth dull blue patina. The hammer, cylinder pin and loading lever retain nearly all of the translucent, color casehardened, finish. Most of the fire blue finish is present on the rear sights and screws. The stock and forearm are in excellent condition and retain nearly 98% of the high polish piano finish. The stock and forearm show minimal handling wear. All of the markings are extremely sharp. This is an exceptional example of a rare Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer, Full-Stock Sporting Rifle with a very rare tang sight from one of the finest collections of percussion Colt firearms ever assembled.