RARE AND FINE NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1862 POCKET NAVY CARTRIDGE CONVERSION REVOLVER WITH “TIFFANY” EAGLE & SNAKE GRIPS.

inv# 01–18960

Cal. 38 RF.
S# 1915/1972.
Bbl. 5.5″ rnd., 1-line New York address, ejector housing, Nimschke-style engraving on entirety of frame and en suite arabesques and punch dot backgrounds on barrel. Classic Nimschke style radiating half round design on recoil shield & loading gate door. Well fit Wexell & Degress “eagle and snake” raised relief silverplated grips. For many years these rare grips were associated with Tiffany of New York, but research by Marlin Pohemus proved manufacture and 1874 patent.

This revolver originally made in percussion in 1863, conversion about 1874. This exact gun is pictured in the most famous of all Colt reference books, “The Book of Colt Firearms” and was originally in the collection of Robert Q. Sutherland. His text states: “Purchased with an interesting history which attests to original ownership by several Mexican military officers & revolutionaries, including Diaz, Villa, & Zapata”. This is a rare pattern, and few examples are known. A nearly identical example SN 1029, is found on page 327 of Bruce McDowell’s 1997 text “A Study of Colt Conversions and Other Percussion Revolvers”.