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Exceptional and Important Historic Cased, Engraved and Inscribed Colt Model 1855 Pocket Model Sidehammer Revolver, Variation w...
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Description
Exceptional and Important Historic Cased, Engraved and Inscribed Colt Model 1855 Pocket Model Sidehammer Revolver, Variation with Screw in Cylinder, Presented by the Colt Company to N.H. GillettSerial number 11224 IE. .31 caliber, 5-shot cylinder with stagecoach holdup roll scene. 3 1/2-inch round barrel with brass pin front sight. Top of barrel stamped "Address Col. Colt/New-York U.S.A."
Engraved in late vine style on the barrel, frame and hammer, the IE in the marking indicating "ivory, engraved." The backstrap presentation inscription to N.H. Gillett was executed in elegant script. Richly blued, with case-hardened hammer, and loading lever. The grips of single piece ivory.
Documented in the Colt factory ledgers, the ledger states the following, in Journal B, page 430:
Saturday January 12, 1867
354. 220. Presentation a/c Dr. To Merchandise
For 1 NM Pkt Pistol 3 1/2 in.
Engd Ivory with all Appendages
In Mahogany Case, presented to
N.H. Gillette [$]20/53
Accessories of a varnished mahogany case, lined in burgundy velvet. Embossed eagle and shield powder flask, blued steel double cavity bullet mold marked "31PKT" on one arm, tin of Eley Bros. percussion caps with green paper label, two packets of Colt's Cartridge Works combustible envelope cartridges, blued L-shaped screwdriver and key.
Accompanied by receipt from A.L. Ulrich, former Colt Secretary and the firm's Museum Curator for many years, showing that he had purchased this revolver for $10.00, on December 23, 1939, Hartford, Connecticut. The seller was a James H. Taylor.
Illustrated in The Colt Engraving Book, volume I, page 258, as well as in Colt Engraving, page 166.
Reverend N.H. Gillett served for nearly twenty years as minister of the Unity Presbyterian Church, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, until his death in 1868. Gillett's church was one of the oldest of that denomination in the United States. Although the inspiration for the presentation cased set is presently unknown, Gillett is believed to have been known to both General William B. Franklin, Colt's General Manager and Vice President from 1865 to 1888, Richard W.H. Jarvis, Samuel Colt's brother-in-law, and president of the company from 1865 until 1901.
The screw in cylinder variation is one of the most desirable of any from the New Pocket Revolver series, introduced c. 1855 in the new Colt Armory, Hartford. This revolver is not only historic, and rare, but in remarkable condition, never having been fired. Extensive research would establish further relevant information on Reverend Gillett, as well as on the rarity of this model, engraved and cased.
Attribution of the engraving on this revolver is to Conrad F. Ulrich.
Literature:
American Arms Collectors Percussion Colts and Their Rivals The Al Cali Collection, pages 58-59.
Provenance:
Arthur L. Ulrich
Al Cali
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