Samuel Colt's Patent Arms Manufacturing Company is very historic as the beginning of Colt's firearms career and as the manufacturer of the first practical commercial revolvers which set the stage for future innovation and the revolver's dominance as the primary handgun from the mid-19th century and into the 20th century where revolvers continued to be widely used alongside newer semi-automatic pistols like the Colt Model 1911. Colt patented the "Paterson" revolver design on February 16, 1836. Only a total of around 3,262 revolving firearms were manufactured by the company in 1836-1842. Of these, 2,350 were Colt's "revolving pistols." That number is then further divided into various models and sub-variants. This classic early Colt is a standard No. 2 Belt Model manufactured c. 1837 complete with an original case and suite of accessories. This revolver has two 5-shot cylinders with the centaur roll scene, a 4 1/2 inch barrel, straight burl walnut grip, and all matching serial numbers. The barrel has 11-groove, round bottom rifling, a small German silver front sight, and the "-Patent Arms Mg Co Paterson, N-J Colt's Pt.-" marking. The revolver comes in its original beveled mahogany case with burgundy velveteen lining, a Colt patent combination ball and powder flask (no. 24), loading tool, Colt's patent capper (no. 164), cleaning rod with turned walnut handle, .31 caliber ball mold with turned walnut handles, and a key. The case lid escutcheon is inscribed "Frederick/Earl of Rutland." This revolver was discovered by legendary collector Herb Glass Sr. in Europe in the 1960s and is accompanied by a 1962 letter from Glass offering the set to author Philip R. Phillips who wrote "Paterson Colt Pistol Variations" with co-author R.L. Wilson. The set instead became part of the famous A.I. McCroskie Collection where it remained until being sold to Greg Lampe in 2001. Provenance: Discovered in Europe by Herb Glass Sr. 1962; The A.I. "Mac" McCroskie Collection 2001; The Greg Lampe Collection

Extremely fine. The revolver retains 85% plus original, bright, high polish blue finish and displays crisp markings and cylinder scenes and fairly minimal age and storage related wear overall. The grip is very fine and has attractive grain, and minor handling and storage marks. The action is tight and functions fine. The case is very fine and has very nice lining with minor fading and contact wear, an added lid escutcheon, attractive figure, and light scratches and dings. The accessories are also very fine and retain the vast majority of their original finish, including the second, matching serialized cylinder which retains 90% original blue finish. This is an incredible cased set with a beautiful Colt Paterson No. 2 Belt Model revolver that comes from three of the most notable collections.