Page 115 - 83-BOOK3

LOT 3186
Scarce Early Production Colt Model 1855 Revolving Full Stock .50 Caliber Percussion Sporting Rifle - Serial no. 107, 50 cal., 27 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured from 1856 to 1864 with this .50 caliber example having an early production three digit serial number (107). Per R.L. Wilson in “The Book of Colt Firearms,” Colt only manufactured 35 Model 1855 sporting rifles with 27 inch barrels chambered in .50 caliber. The top strap is marked “COL. COLT HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” The left rear of the frame is marked “COLT’S PATENT/Nov 24th 1857.” The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, rear face of the cylinder, arbor pin, trigger guard tang and buttplate. Fitted with a dovetail brass blade front sight and three leaf rear sight graduated from 100 to 600 yards. Correctly lacks provision for a bayonet. There are two barrel bands, a sling swivel attached to the
Collector’s Fact
According to the statistical information in The Book of Colt Firearms, only 35 Colt Model 1855 Sporting Rifles chambered in .50 Caliber with 27 inch barrels were produced.
Collector’s Fact
Only 62 Colt Model 1855 Artillery Model Carbines were produced in this configuration.
underside of the buttstock and rear barrel band, cleaning rod, 5-shot fluted cylinder, buttstock with solid crescent buttplate, and full length forearm with brass end cap. CONDITION: Fine, retaining 40% original blue finish with the balance a smooth brown patina mixed with some scattered pitting. The wood is also fine with much of the original varnish remaining, a number of minor-moderate ding and scratches. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
Rare and Desirable U.S. Martially Marked Colt Model 1855 Artillery Percussion Revolving Carbine with Saber Bayonet - Serial no. 1299, 56 cal., 24 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This is a solid representative example of a rare U.S. martially marked Colt Model 1855 Artillery revolving carbine that was manufactured prior to the Civil War. According to page 199 of “The Book of Colt Firearms” by R.L. Wilson, only 62 Colt Model 1855 Artillery model carbines were produced in this configuration, distinguished in having two barrel bands, .56 caliber 24 inch barrel with right mounted saber bayonet lug, and 5-shot fluted cylinder. The Ordnance Department purchased 4,613 Colt 1855 Military rifles and carbines during the Civil War; nearly 900 of these rifles were purchased from B. Kittredge and other commercial sources, and over 3,700 rifles were purchased directly from Colt. The 1st and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters (Berdan’s Sharpshooters), the 21st Ohio Infantry and 2nd Michigan Cavalry were primarily armed with Colt Model 1855 Military rifles. This carbine has a root-type side hammer and a ratchet-type loading lever. Brass blade front sight and the folding three-leaf rear sight is graduated for 100, 300 and 600 yards. The rifle has an iron cleaning rod with knurled handle and threaded end fitted in the forearm. “COL. COLT HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” marked on the top strap sight groove. “COLTS/PATENT/US” marked on the upper tang ahead of “NOV 24. 1857”. Small “H” inspector stamp visible on the left side of the trigger guard bow. Matching serial number “1299” marked on the barrel beneath the forearm, in the forearm channel, under the frame, trigger guard tang, and on the toe of the buttplate. The buttplate has a sliding trap door containing a brass cleaning rod. Walnut stock and forearm. Factory sling swivels are located on the rear barrel band and trigger guard tang with correct style reproduction sling. “GDM” (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a “Brazilian Navy” saber bayonet with 24 inch blade made by Schnitzler & Kirschbaum of Solingen, Prussia and marked with “S&K” and naval anchor markings at the base of the blade, and “2010” on the base of the brass handle. Also includes a metal-tipped leather scabbard that is slightly undersized for the length of the blade. These bayonets were originally intended for shipment to the Brazilian Navy, but most saw use in the American Civil War. CONDITION: Good, bright metal finish exhibiting genuine period use with extensive scattered moderate pitting and wear. Stock is also good as lightly sanded and re-oiled, with a crack visible in the forearm underneath and ahead of the ramming lever, some light dents, and slightly undersized at the toe. Mechanically fine. Bayonet and scabbard are both also good with dark scattered moderate pitting on the blade, and the replacement scabbard has some cracking in the leather and loose metal tips (slightly undersized as mentioned above). A solid representative example of a rare U.S. marked Colt Model 1855 Artillery carbine that would make a fine addition to any U.S. Martial or Civil War collection! Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 3187
113