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Home / Historical / 2011 September Dallas Signature Arms & Armor Auction Auction #6073 / Lot #33007
    LOT #33007  | 
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    Fine, Cased, Historic, and U.S. Martially Marked Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, with Smithsonian Institution Stamping "222 399" on Grips

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    • Handguns:Single Action Revolver, Fine, Cased, Historic, and U.S. Martially Marked Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, with Smithsonian Institution Stamping "222 399" on Grips
    • Handguns:Single Action Revolver, Fine, Cased, Historic, and U.S. Martially Marked Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, with Smithsonian Institution Stamping "222 399" on Grips
    • Handguns:Single Action Revolver, Fine, Cased, Historic, and U.S. Martially Marked Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, with Smithsonian Institution Stamping "222 399" on Grips
    Handguns:Single Action Revolver, Fine, Cased, Historic, and U.S. Martially Marked Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, with Smithsonian Institution Stamping "222 399" on Grips Handguns:Single Action Revolver, Fine, Cased, Historic, and U.S. Martially Marked Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, with Smithsonian Institution Stamping "222 399" on Grips Handguns:Single Action Revolver, Fine, Cased, Historic, and U.S. Martially Marked Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, with Smithsonian Institution Stamping "222 399" on Grips View More >
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    Description

    Fine, Cased, Historic, and U.S. Martially Marked Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, with Smithsonian Institution Stamping "222 399" on Grips
    Serial number 14797. .44 caliber, 6-shot cylinder with Texas Rangers and Indians roll scene, and serial marking 14756 within number cartouche. 7 1/2-inch part round, part octagon barrel with brass blade front sight. Top flat of barrel lug stamped:
    Address Saml. Colt/New-York City
    within brackets. "Colts/Patent/U.S." on left side of frame. Blued, with color case-hardened frame, hammer, and loading lever. Plain brass gripstraps. The grips of varnished walnut. Left grip with inspector cartouche LCA, the right grip marked RHKW.
    Varnished mahogany case with brassbound corners on lid, lined in burgundy velvet. Embossed stand of arms powder flask, blued steel double cavity bullet mold, tin of Eley Bros. percussion caps with embossed lid and paper label encircling can, as well as packet of Hazard Powder Co. waterproof cartridges.
    History:
    Revolver from the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History collection, and had been traded for a Gatling Gun by the Museum staff. At the time of the trade, the cylinder on the revolver bore serial no. 16143, with the standard Texas Rangers and Indians cylinder roll scene.
    A letter from Craddock R. Goins, Jr., then Associate Curator, Division of Military History, Smithsonian Institution, The National Museum of History and Technology, states (August 28, 1973):
    According to our records, Colt Dragoon Model 1848 Revolver, Catalog #222,399 was given to the Smithsonian Institution on July 31, 1903 by the War Department and exchanged on April 21, 1958 with Mr. Arthur Sherman of Royal Oaks, Michigan. According to our catalog card, the cylinder was stamped with Serial #16143, the frame was Serial #14797 and bearing inspectors' stamps "LCA["] and "RHKW." None of these numbers match the two remaining dragoon revolvers in our collections. Although our records do not reflect precisely where these pistols were prior to 1903, I was told many years ago by the curator then in charge of the collections that it was among a group of antique arms stored at Fort Monroe, Virginia.
    Also with the revolver is a shipping document from the Smithsonian Institution, listing the serial number and revolver, 14797, and the U.S. War Department as the collector, with accession #41356, catalogue no. 222399, Division of Military History.
    The cased set is accompanied by a folder with the following documentation:
    Letter of August 28, 1973 from Craddock R. Goins, Jr., Associate Curator, Division of Military History, Smithsonian Institution, The National Museum of History and Technology. In which Goins provides Al Cali with specific data from the museum's records pertaining to Colt Dragoon Model 1848 Revolver, catalogue #222,399, being traded by the museum to Art Sherman, of Royal Oaks, Michigan. Serial nos. listed for the Dragoon revolver are 16143 and 14797, with inspectors' stamps LCA and RHKW. Goins' letter closes with the statement: "I was told many years ago by the curator then in charge of the collections that it was among a group of antique arms stored at Fort Monroe, Virginia."
    Above letter accompanied by the air mail #10 envelope it which it was mailed addressed to "Mr. Al Cali . . . Cupertno, California 95014."
    Two photocopies of the shipping invoice record of the Colt Dragoon Revolver, Serial 14797 by the Smithsonian Institution to Art Sherman, 4354 Arden Place, Royal Oaks, Michigan. Dated August 30, 1957, and signed for as received by Arthur Sherman on September 3, 1957.
    Envelope from Art Sherman c/o George R. Repaire, of El Cerrito California, dated 21 May 1957, and addressed to Mr. Al Cali "Via - Basset - Fowler - Greg Martin."
    Literature:
    R.L. Wilson, American Arms Collectors Percussion Colts and Their Rivals The Al Cali Collection, pages 9-11.
    Provenance:
    National Museum of American History,
    Smithsonian Institution
    Art Sherman
    Johnie Bassett
    Al Cali

    Condition Report*: Excellent to mint. Cylinder scene and all markings sharp.  Color case hardening with light fading, 90-95% blue finish. Grips with 95% varnish and minor storage marks. Appears to be unfired. Case and accessories 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: 5,265

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