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Winning Bid US $6064 First bid $2500 Quantity 1 # of bids 11 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2023-08-01 00:00:00 Ended 2024-12-05 17:00:00

RARE Colt, 1855 New Model Revolving Rifle, Full Stock Sporter, (18'' Carbine), Cal: .56 5 shot. MFG: 1855-64 (Antique). SN: 487, 18'' Barrel. In 1855, with his Model 1855 patent, Mr. Colt introduced a spur-trigger revolver that featured a fully enclosed cylinder. These handguns were officially named Side hammer revolvers, but they also were known as ''Root'' revolvers after Elisha K. Root, who at that time was employed as Colt's factory superintendent & Chief Engineer. Based on the Side hammer design, Colt produced the Side hammer Model 1855 rifles & carbines for military & sporting use, as well as a revolving shotgun. In 1855 it became the first repeating rifle to be adopted for service by the U.S. Military, but problems with the design prevented its use until 1857. The Model 1855, which was the most widely produced revolving rifle, was available in .36, .44 & .56 caliber. Four barrel lengths were available: 15, 18, 21 & 24 inches. A six shot cylinder was used if the caliber was .36 or the .44. If the caliber was .56, a five-shot cylinder was used. The revolving rifle used percussion caps, like revolving pistols of the time. A cartridge (consisting of powder & a lead ball) was loaded into the front of the chamber & then compressed with a plunger that was located beneath the barrel. Once the cylinder's chambers were loaded, percussion caps were placed over the vent nipples at the rear of the cylinder. The weapon was now ready to fire. In addition to being susceptible to chain fire problems, the revolving cylinder design also tended to spray lead splinters into the wrist & hand of the user. Colt revolving rifles were used on the Pony Express by the eight men who guarded the dangerous run between Independence, Missouri, & Santa Fe. The U.S. government had purchased 765 Colt revolving carbines & rifles prior to the Civil War. Many of these were shipped to southern locations & ended up being used by the Confederacy. After the war began, the Union purchased many more rifles & carbines. Sources disagree over the exact number purchased, but approximately 4,400 to 4,800 were purchased in total over the length of the war. Despite the numbers in use, the rifle's faults would prove fatal for the weapon. A board of officers evaluated the evidence & decided to discontinue its use. The rifles were sold for 42 cents each, a fraction of the original purchase cost of 44 dollars.

The metal surfaces have all been polished gun metal silver, with some speckled areas of light pitting. The walnut buttstock rates very good, as repaired. The toe & belly of the stock were apparently damaged at one point as 7'' of the belly of the stock from the lower tang to the buttplate has been professionally replaced. It was then lightly sanded, cleaned & re-oiled. It is so well done that it was missed upon initial inspection & was only noticed upon close inspection with a magnifying glass. There are several small chips on the right wrist where the stock & receiver meet, along with a few other small scrapes, scratches & contusions to the current finish. This is the rare full stock Sporter, having the original wood forend, as other variations such as the early Military examples were shipped without wooden forends. These forends were fragile & thus examples of this rifle typically are found with cracked, broken, missing or replaced forends. This is the original rare forend wood. The forend is held on with a barrel band, which also retains the cleaning rod. The barrel carries a military pattern folding leaf rear sight, with 300 & 500 yards leaves & a small brass blade front sight. Bore is very good, but with pitting in the groove of the strong rifling. Buttstock carries a long upper tang crescent metal buttplate, with sliding trapdoor. The frame & lower tang carry matching SN's. The manufacturers marking on the top strap is visible, as is the patent marking on the upper tang. Mechanics seem to function correctly & the cylinder rotates & times correctly. The hammer drops at both full & half cock. This is a sharp look early revolving carbine & a true piece of American history. Antique, No FFL Req. - Value: 5000 to 10000

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Price

RARE Colt, 1855 New Model Revolving Rifle, Full Stock Sporter, (... Item # 4096 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $6064

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