Rare, factory cased, Colt Paterson No. 3 Belt Model revolver manufactured c. 1838-1840.The revolver is complete with a factory mahogany case with beveled lid and brown velvet lining, extra cylinder and full complement of accessories. The revolver has a 4 3/4 inch octagon barrel with nickel silver half moon blade front sight, five-shot, round shoulder, cylinder, frame with rounded corners and flared walnut grip. The barrel is not fitted with a loading lever. The barrel, cylinder, and back strap have a high polish blue finish, the frame and hammer are color casehardened, and the grip has a high polish varnish finish. Both of the five shot cylinders are roll engraved with "Colt", the four horse head trademark and the centaur and horsemen scene. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "-Patent Arms M'g Co. Paterson N-J Colts Pt-" reading from the breech to the muzzle with double arrows at either end of the legend. The serial number, "169", is stamped on the bottom of the wedge, the rear face of both cylinders, the cylinder turning ring and on the butt of the left grip. All of the visible serial numbers match. The walnut factory case contains: (1) extra cylinder mounted on a wooden dowel, (2) iron single cavity round ball bullet mold with three turned wooden handles and fire blue finish, (3) Paterson combination tool with ball-seater, screwdriver, nipple wrench and nipple pick, (4) cleaning rod with turned wooden handle brass ferrule and 5 1/2-inch steel shaft with threaded end, (5) brass Paterson cap primer (capper) is a well done reproduction (6) Paterson No.3 Belt Model charger. The accessories are secured by wire retainers. The charger is 5 1/2 inches long with a copper body and three gold plated brass rings. The upper and lower rings are knurled and the center ring is inscribed: "Patent Arms M'g Co Paterson, N.J. Colt's Pt." in script with double arrows at either end. Colt manufactured approximately 850 Paterson No. 3 Belt Model revolvers. Cased examples with all of the original accessories are extremely rare.

Very fine. The revolver, case and accessories (except capper see above) are all original and rate very good to excellent. The revolver retains 70% strong original high polish blue and color casehardened finish. Wear is concentrated primarily on the right side of the barrel lug and the inside of the grip. The percussion nipples, cylinder and recoil shield show minimal flash pitting. The barrel legend and roll-engraved cylinder scene are extremely sharp. The action functions fine. The flared varnished walnut grip shows moderate handling wear and retains 60% of the original varnish finish with most of the wear on the right side of the grip, where it rested in the case. The case exterior is in very good overall condition with scratches and light handling marks. The brown velvet lining is in fine overall condition with compression marks and oil stains from long contact with the revolver and accessories. The lining on the side of the case adjacent to the revolver muzzle and hammer is torn in several places. The spare cylinder is in very good condition with sharp roll-engraving. The cylinder face has some scattered flash pitting. The bullet mold is in very good overall condition and has about 75% of the fire blue finish. Traces of fire blue finish are present on the combination tool. The cleaning rod is in fine condition with a dark, un-touched, patina. The reproduction capper body has a good-looking, aged, patina. The mold is excellent. The rare Paterson charger is in very fine overall condition and retains 70% of the original gold finish overall. This is an exceptional, complete, example of a rare, factory cased Colt Paterson No. 3 Belt Model Revolver and accessories.