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LOT 3206 Very Fine Cased Colt London Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 23300, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. This revolver was manufactured in the Colt London factory in 1855 and remains in very fine condition. It has the “-ADDRESS. COL. COLT. LONDON-” barrel address, London proof marks on the barrel and cylinder, “COLTS/PATENT” on the left side of the frame, matching serial numbers, standard cylinder scene, varnished walnut grip, and rounded head screws. The case has a blank lid escutcheon, navy blue velvet lining, exceptional James Dixon & Sons “COLTS NAVY FLASK,” cleaning rod, L-shaped combination tool, iron dual cavity bullet mold, Eley cap tin, key, and variety of bullets and balls. CONDITION: Very fine with 85% plus of the bright original blue finish on the barrel, 30% original blue finish on the cylinder, traces of original blue on the trigger guard and back strap, 60% original case colors concentrated strongest on the right side of the frame, and generally only minor age and storage related wear and little signs of actual use. The grip is also very fine and has most of the glossy original varnish, slight marks and scratches, and minor handling and storage wear. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine and has mild storage wear mainly on the edges and exterior. The flask is very fine with most of the lacquer and gild remaining and a few noticeable dings on the base. The mold and cap tin are both very good. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500 LOT 3207 Historic 1826 Dated Correspondence Signed by Christopher Colt, Father of Samuel Colt - This framed historic document is dated 1 December 1826 and bears the signature of Christopher Colt, the father of Samuel Colt of Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company fame. Christopher Colt was born in 1780 and was a farmer early in life before transitioning to business and moving his growing family to Hartford, Connecticut. The letter appears to be in regards to Christopher obtaining some cotton refining equipment from Mr. Farnham. This was likely equipment intended to be used in Colt’s Ware, Massachusetts textile factory which Samuel Colt would work at around 1831, and where he would produce his first two prototype revolving firearms. Christopher Colt died in 1850. The text of the letter appears to be “Mr. Farnham, Dear Sir, I am informed that you have at your cotton mill, an old fashioned stretcher out of use, If you have such or frame & wish to sell it John inform me, describe the condition it is in & name the price. Respectfully, your old servant, Chris Colt”. The letter itself is approximately 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches with the message on the front and the address visible through a glass pane on the back. The frame is approximately 17 1/4 x 15 1/4 inches. CONDITION: Very good, the paper showing little staining or age discoloration, a small tear where the seal was broken, and clear crisp text with the ink showing little fading. A historic early piece of correspondence from one of the most influential early American families! Provenance: The Robert B. “Bob” Berryman Estate Collection. Estimate: 700 - 1,000
LOT 3208
Cased London Proofed Colt Model
1855 Sidehammer Percussion
Pocket Revolver with Accessories -
Serial no. 5229, 31 percussion cal., 4 1/2
inch round bbl., blue finish, varnished
walnut grips. This model was designed
by Samuel Colt and referred to in
factory advertisements and labels as
“New Model Pistols.” Only 14,000 were
manufactured in .31 caliber compared
to 26,000 in .28 caliber. It is believed
that this model was specifically
designed to compete with Colt’s rivals
in European markets, but this model
was never as popular as the traditional
open top Colt percussion revolvers
despite its excellent design. This revolver was manufactured in 1862 and falls within the Model 5A range and has that model’s standard markings and features other than the London proofmarks on the left side of the barrel and in the cylinder flutes. It comes in a hardwood case with English fitted interior, factory sheet on the inside of the lid with “DIRECTIONS FOR USING/COLT’S PISTOLS, RIFLES, CARBINES, AND SHOT GUNS,” green baize lining, Eley Bros. cap tin marked “Made expressly for/COLT’S PT/Belt and Pocket/PISTOLS.,” James Dixon & Sons pocket powder flask, L-shaped screwdriver, bullet mold, bore rod, oiler, key, and mix of ball and conical bullets.
CONDITION: Fine overall with 40% plus original blue finish, 50% of the bright original case colors, smooth gray along the back strap, gray and brown patina on the balance, some light spotting, mild edge wear, a chips in the heel, and minor scratches. Mechanically fine. The case is very good with moderate storage type wear in the lining and dark staining on the original mostly complete interior label. The flask is very fine overall and the balance of accessories are very good. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 3209
Historic Framed 1857 Dated Letter
to Samuel Colt from Charles Caesar,
Colt’s European Salesman, Regarding
the Establishment of a Factory in
Liege Belgium and a 1995 Dated
Porcelain Portrait of Samuel Colt -
This historic letter dated 8 July 1857 was
written at a very interesting time of expansion for the Colt Patent Firearms
Company. With the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1853, Colt saw a
chance to greatly expand his European sales, particularly to those nations
involved in the conflict, namely Russia, Great Britain, and France. One such
transaction included 3,000 Colt Model 1851 revolvers sold to Russia in 1855. Due to a naval blockade
by the British Royal Navy an attempt was made to secretly ship the revolvers hidden in cotton
bales through neutral Prussia. The revolvers were discovered and confiscated by Prussia, leading to
unwanted negative publicity for Colt, who was at the same time selling weapons to the British. This
letter is from Colt’s chief agent for continental Europe at the time, Charles Caesar, who would later
(c. 1866) direct all of his continental sales through Colt’s agent in England, Baron Von Oppen. This
double sided letter mostly discusses, in some detail, Caesar’s efforts to establish a Colt factory in
Liege, Belgium, to which it appears Samuel Colt had previously shown some interest and even made
promises to local officials. Elisha Root, Colt’s superintendent at the time, is mentioned as one of the
men possibly needed in Europe to help get such a factory up and running. It also can be deduced
from Caesar’s tone and language in the letter that part of the motivation for establishing a factory in Liege would be to squeeze out competitors who were currently infringing upon Colt’s patents, also mentioned later in the letter, referencing
at least two men that allowed this to happen. The letter goes on to reference a shipment of 3,000 arms to Bologne and that Caesar is hoping to take a two week vacation, possibly due to stress from dealing with the seizure of the Russian revolver shipment. The letter is addressed to “Monsieur le Colonel Sam. Colt” and includes approximately three pages of text, two of which are visible through a clear panel on the back of the frame. The document itself it approximately 9 x 16 inches, with the frame being 17 1/4 x 24 1/4 inches. Also included is a small (5 5/8 x 4 3/4 inches including frame) framed porcelain painting of Samuel Colt dated 1995 that appears to represent Colt at 18 years old in 1832, the back is signed what appears to be “B. Menheus/1995”.
CONDITION: The letter itself is fine with a few minor tears, mostly due to breaking of the seal, some minor staining, and the ink bleeding through to the opposite side. The frame is also fine with some scattered minor dings and scratches. A very interesting piece of insight into the European operations of the Colt Patent Firearms Company!
Provenance: The Robert B. “Bob” Berryman Estate Collection.
Estimate: 1,000 - 1,500
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