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Fine and Exceptional Cased Colt Baby Dragoon Pocket Model Revolver with Early Cylinder Roll Scene...
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Description
Fine and Exceptional Cased Colt Baby Dragoon Pocket Model Revolver with Early Cylinder Roll SceneSerial number 3035. .31 caliber, 5-shot cylinder with Texas Rangers and Comanche Indians roll scene, with
Colts
Patent
and serial marking. 5-inch octagon barrel with brass pin front sight. Top of barrel stamped:
Address Saml. Colt
New-York City
within brackets. "Colts/Patent" stamped on left side of frame. Blued, with case-hardened frame and hammer, and silver-plated brass gripstraps. The grips of varnished walnut.
Rare leather-covered wood case, lined in deep brown velvet. Embossed eagle and crossed revolvers powder flask, brass double cavity bullet mold, blued L-shaped screwdriver/nipple wrench, miscellaneous percussion caps and round and conical lead projectiles within corner lidded compartment with leather pull. Embossed brass keyplate on front of case. Fabric cover on wood bottom to case.
Commentary on Leather-Covered Casings for Early Colt Percussion Revolvers of Hartford Manufacture
Leather-covered casings for the Pocket Model Colt revolver, commonly called the Baby Dragoon, are an extreme rarity. It would appear that Samuel Colt was considering leather-covered casings as part of available products accompanying not only the Baby Dragoon, but the larger Dragoon revolvers. Evidence of this is as follows:
Baby Dragoon no. 2426 (from the William M. Locke Collection, p. 63, bottom of The William M. Locke Collection). The Locke book describes this revolver as follows:
Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon five shot 31 caliber percussion revolver. 3 inch octagonal barrel marked "[ADDRESS SAML COLT" over "NEW YORK-CITY]". Left side of frame marked "COLT'S PATENT". Butt inscribed "GWT". Cased in French recessed leather case with plunger type flask, brass bullet mold and screw driver. Serial number 2426.
Other Baby Dragoons known with leather-covered casings are as follows:
Baby Dragoon serial no. 3035 (from the Al Cali Collection, described herewith).
Baby Dragoon serial no. 9969. Has distinctive embossed keyplate as on no. 14040 below and First Model Dragoon no. 3969 below.
Baby Dragoon serial no. 14040, made for Governor Ramsey of Minneseota, and pictured in the book on the Stagecoach Museum Collection. With distinctive embossed keyplate as on Baby Dragoon no. 9969 and on First Model Dragoon no. 3969.
Styled like and by the same maker as the leather-covered casing for the above Baby Dragoon revolvers (9969 and 14040) is serial no. 3969 First Model Dragoon, known to collectors as: The Colonel Thomas Henry Seymour-General Franklin Pierce-Colonel T.J. Whipple First Model Dragoon, serial no. 3969.
All of the above cases were contour lined in velvet.
Reviewing the standard reference work on the Model 1848 Baby Dragoon and Model 1849 Pocket revolver, Robert M. Jordan and Darrow M. Watt's Colt's Pocket '49 Its Evolution Including the Baby Dragoon & Wells Fargo, there are no cases by the same maker as that of Baby Dragoons serial no, 3035, or no. 9969 or no. 14040. In fact, the index to the book, which is quite detailed on casings for revolvers 9969 and 14040, makes no mention of "leather" as an element in their manufacture - other than the book casing style.
Another leather-covered wood case appears in Samuel Colt Presents, on page 84, and bears serial no. 67777/. This too is by a different maker, and is in a different style, with differing lid construction, and a partitioned, American style, interior. The revolver, a 4-inch Model 1849 Pocket, is engraved, and fitted with mother-of-pearl grips. The grips have a presentation plaque on each panel, of gold, inscribed from: "F.A. Van Syckel [left side] To his Father [right side]."
Conclusion
The Cased Baby Dragoon Model 1848 Pocket Revolver no. 3035 is an extremely rare and much sought-after example. Considering its exceptional condition, crisp roll scene and presence of finishes, and the fine blind-tooled, leather-covered and velvet-lined bevel top lid casing, this revolver rates among the most sought-after of early percussion Colt revolvers.
Literature:
R.L. Wilson, American Arms Collectors Percussion Colts and Their Rivals The Al Cali Collection, pages 22-23.
Provenance:
Robert Allan
Al Cali
Condition Report*:
Excellent to mint. Cylinder scene and all markings sharp. Case hardening with fine color, 98% blue finish. Light tracking lines on cylinder. Ivory with mellow patina and minor age cracks. Silver-plating 100%, turned black. Unfired. Case and accessories very good to excellent.
*Heritage Auctions strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder.
Statements by Heritage regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements of fact,
and do not constitute a representation, warranty, or assumption of liability by Heritage. All lots offered are sold "AS IS".
Auction Info
Auction Dates
September, 2011
18th
Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 2
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 8,108
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
15% of the successful bid (minimum $14) per lot.
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