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!
EXCEPTIONAL DOCUMENTED CASED & FACTORY ENGRAVED “COLONEL COLT” PRESENTATION 3RD MODEL NAVY REVOLVER 1853.
01-23992
Cal. 36
S# 19471
Factory engraved and inscribed on grip frame: “COL COLT to the LIGHT GUARD, SEPT. 14, 1853”. Hartford newspapers earlier in September had stories about the shooting match that occurred on this date concerning Samuel Colt’s personally supported “Hartford Light Guard”. The September 15th 1853 edition of the paper tells the story of first prize of this pistol being awarded to the best shot in the Hartford Light Guard, Bellamy R. Stone. Stone (1833-1884) is listed in Hartford city directories starting in 1850 as a general machinist and as pistol maker at Colt by 1870s. Bellamy would die in 1884 still Colt employee. This revolver is pictured in “The Colt Engraving Book” vol. 1, pages 112-113 and attributed to shop of Gustave Young. Elegant scrolls on the left side of barrel terminate into a hound’s head and a snake head on the right side. Grips are a beautiful burl walnut with high gloss varnish.
An original Colt mahogany casing contains the revolver, two sided eagle and panoply of arms flask, brass “Colts Patent” 2-cavity mold with iron sprue cutter, loose balls, Eley cap tin, and “L” shaped combination tool. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of pages from Colt Engraving book where pictured. PROVENANCE: Little John’s Auction 2001, Collection of Horst Kreiner.
STATUS: ANTIQUE
