Lot 1075:Extremely Rare and Exceptional Cased, Colt Model 1855 Full Stock

April 14th, 2018|Rock Island, IL

Lot 1075:Extremely Rare and Exceptional Cased, Colt Model 1855 Full Stock

April 14th, 2018|Rock Island, IL

Price Realized:

Estimated Price$65,000 - $95,000

Extremely Rare and Exceptional Cased, Colt Model 1855 Full Stock Sporting Rifle

This truly outstanding Colt Model 1855 Full Stock Sporting Rifle was manufactured c.1860. Colt manufactured an estimated total of 250 Model 1855 Sporting Rifles with 24 inch, .44 caliber barrels between 1855 and 1864. Most of the Model 1855 Sporting Rifles were half-stock models; full stock Model 1855 Sporting Rifles are rare. In "THE BOOK OF COLT FIREARMS", author R.L. Wilson states that: cased Model 1855 Full Stock Sporting Rifles are: "of the utmost rarity". This rifle has the Colt commercial blued finish on the barrel, barrel bands, receiver, six-shot cylinder, trigger guard, crescent buttplate and sling swivels. The screws, rear sight and trigger are fire blue. The hammer and loading lever are casehardened with fiery case colors. The cleaning rod is bright and the forearm has a brass tip. The stock and forearm are nicely figured American walnut with a varnished piano finish. The barrel has a nickel-silver, half-moon front sight and a three-leaf folding rear sight with 100, 300 and 600 yard markings on the leaves. The buttplate has a sliding trapdoor and the butt trap contains a brass cleaning rod extension. The receiver top strap is roll-stamped: "- COLT'S PT./1856-" in two lines followed by "-ADDRESS COL. COLT- HARTFORD CT. U.S.A-" in two lines. The serial number is visible on the bottom of the frame, lower tang. All of the visible serial numbers match. The rifle is contained in an oak, British style, case with brass reinforced corners, brass screws and round, folding, inlaid brass handle. The case has a green baize lining with eleven compartments. Two of the compartments have lids with brass handles. The case contains: (1) Dixon British bag-shaped powder flask with ring and adjustable charger marked: "COLTS/RIFLE FLASK/LARGE BORE", (2) leather sling with silver or nickel-plated snaps, (3) brass capper with the initials "ATD" scratched on the lid, (4) large pewter oil bottle by Dixon, (5) L-shaped Colt combination screw-driver/nipple wrench, (6) Colt combination tool for Model 1855 Rifles, (7) wooden box containing case key, (8) blued steel .44 caliber, double cavity, bent leg, bullet mold marked "COLT'S/PATENT" on the sprue cutter, (9) two sealed 250 count tins of Eley percussion caps for "COLT'S Pt REPEATING RIFLES" and (10) eighteen .44 caliber conical lead bullets.

ConditionExcellent. The rifle is all original and retains 90% plus of the bright original high polish blue and fiery casehardened finish. The barrel and barrel bands have nearly all of the blue finish. The receiver top strap has some flaking on the right side with function scratches behind the hammer. The cylinder retains close to 95% of the blue finish with some scattered age discoloration. Most of the blue wear is confined to the trigger guard and buttplate. The loading lever and hammer retain nearly all of the vivid case colors. The screws and small components have most of the fire blue finish. The percussion nipples show light-moderate flash pitting. All of the markings are crisp. The stock and forearm are excellent and retain 95% of the original varnish finish. The only significant wear is a shallow dent on the forearm between the lower barrel band and the loading lever and a similar dent on the lower right side of the stock wrist. The oak case exterior is in good overall condition with scattered, shallow, handling and storage marks. The baize interior lining is faded but remains in fine overall condition; wear is limited to several small tears in the main compartment from contact with the rifle components and some age discoloration. The rare Dixon Colt's Rifle flask is very fine and retrains most of the brown lacquer and gold plated finish. The scarce Colt Model 1855 Rifle tool is very fine with most of the blue finish intact and the Colt bullet mold is in near new condition. Both of the scarce Eley Colt Revolving Rifle cap tins remain in very fine-excellent condition. All of the other accessories remain in fine condition. This is a truly outstanding example of an extremely rare British cased Colt Model 1855 Full Stock Sporting Rifle with a full complement of equally rare accessories. This rifle would be the stand-out piece in the most advanced collection of Colt percussion firearms.

Details

ManufacturerColt

Model1855-Rifle

TypeRifle

Serial number

ClassAntique

Caliber / Gauge44 percussion

Barrel24 inch

Finishblue/casehardened

Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL