Fall 2023 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2023
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
VERY RARE EARLIEST CIVILIAN COLT DRAGOON 1ST MODEL, BEING THE 4TH REVOLVER MADE BY COLT IN HARTFORD 1848, EARLY BEVELED “PATERSON STYLE” CASING
01-23981
Cal. 44.
S# 1344.
This revolver was among the first few civilian Colt revolvers actually made by Colt and not Whitney contracted. Colt Walkers were contracted by Whitney, and their replacement Whitney-Walkers models ran to serial number 1340. S# 1341 is first civilian Colt Dragoon made by Samuel Colt in Hartford in 1848 based on well documented evidence. Colt revolvers in serial range 1341-about 1999 are all civilian. Colt concurrently was delivering a martial contract to the army in a serial range 2000-3000 with the same tiny serial number dies used on Walkers. Colt continued using the Whitneyville-Walker dies until they wore out and went to a larger number font. This same occurrence was in the civilian serial range 1341-1350 (noted by Salzer) Two of these earlier revolvers are known, and one is a relic S# 1343 excavated and inscribed to a US revenue cutter, S# 1352 is inscribed to same ship.
This exact revolver S# 1344 is well known being pictured in Sutherland & Wilson’s monumental 1970 text “The Book of Colt Firearms”. Revolver is housed in early style beveled walnut case, Not compartmented, but recesses in floor to accommodate revolver, original and very scarce “Colts Patent” Dragoon flask, “Colts Patent” 2-cavity mold, and cap tin.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: 20-page pamphlet from CCA show 2014 display “First & Last Colt 1st Model Dragoons”. Copy of 2007 ASAC article by Dick Salzer on early Dragoons.
STATUS: ANTIQUE
