Exceptional and Fine Cased, Engraved and Carved Ivory-Gripped Colt Model 1862 Police Model Revolver

Description

Exceptional and Fine Cased, Engraved and Carved Ivory-Gripped Colt Model 1862 Police Model Revolver
Serial number 37951/E. .36 caliber, 5-shot semi-fluted and rebated cylinder. 4 1/2-inch round barrel with brass pin front sight. Top of barrel stamped with single line
Address Col. Saml. Colt New-York U.S. America.
Left side of frame engraved "Colts/Patent." Scroll and border engraved in late vine style engraving, with coverage on the barrel, frame, hammer, and gripstraps. Backstrap engraving of the Gustave Young scroll style. Wolf head motif on each side of hammer. Finely knurled hammer spur. Blued, with casehardened frame, hammer, and loading lever, with silver-plated brass gripstraps. The grips of relief-carved ivory, the left side with Mexican eagle motif within exaggerated snake border.
Varnished mahogany case, lined in burgundy velvet. Embossed American eagle and shield powder flask, blued steel best quality double cavity bullet mold with finely formed handles, rich blue and 36P marking on one arm. Additional accessories of tin of Eley Bros. percussion caps with orange paper label, blued L-shaped screwdriver/nipple wrench, two packets of combustible envelope cartridges by Colt's Cartridge Works, and key. Wood key plate inlaid on front of case.
Accompanied by manila folder containing documenting letter on this set by R.L. Wilson. Plus catalogue sheet, with color photograph of the revolver; the sheet noting all contents of the set and various other details. Also included, two photocopies and an original of a letter from Herb Glass, Jr., to Neil S. Berman, dated November 1, 1989, documenting serial no. 37951/E cased Colt Model 1862 Police revolver. Information includes the statement: "My father obtained [the set] from Mrs. William Locke in 1977, 4 years after William Locke's death. It was in the Richard Mellon collection until 1980, when my father re-acquired it in a trade. He kept it until 1986. . . . He always admired this particular set because of the lovely extra polish blue finish and the superb, high relief carved Mexican Eagle ivory grips." Also in the folder, an envelope addressed to Al Cali, from American Antiques of 1359 Broadway, New York, within which is the original of the Herb Glass, Jr., letter.
Attribution of the engraving on this revolver is to Conrad F. Ulrich.
Literature:
R.L. Wilson. American Arms Collectors Percussion Colts and Their Rivals The Al Cali Collection, pages 74-75.
Provenance:
William M. Locke
Richard Prosser Mellon
Neil Berman
Al Cali



*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".