AN INTERESTING COLT 1855 REVOLVING RIFLE

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USA

dating

Third quarter of the 19th Century

dimensions

length 108,3 cm.

conditions

medium

Round, rifled, 24", 56 cal. barrel, with foresight, clutch for the bayonet (later assembled?), octagonal base with a three heights leaf-shaped rear sight. Bore with signs of use, visible groove. Five-shot cylinder (acid cleaned?). External hammer. The dorsal tang of the frame marked "COLTS PATENT", the lower one marked "4xx". Wooden butt and fore-end, the former with signs of use and time, restorations and a dowel replaced. The fore-end with brass stripe. Various dents on the iron surfaces. Working mechanics. Iron ramrod.

According to the owner's information, this may be one of the very rare Colt Revolving Rifles used by Garibaldi and the Thousand: of the 59 purchased by Garibaldi, 48 were sent to Bologna to be modified. The model presented here bears commercial markings and no military inscription, the fore-end has been clearly modified by lowering it on one side, suggesting that the clutch for the bayonet was added after the purchase, just like it was done with Garibaldi's rifles. The known serial numbers of these rifles range from 265 to 570. In the attached pictures the originals of the accounting registry of the Expedition of the Thousands, the pages shown are related to the Colt firearms purchased to supply the troops of Garibaldi. See also "Le Colt di Garibaldi" by E. Arrigoni.

An exhibition featuring all lots presented will anticipate the sale, during it the director and the staff of the auction house will be available to provide any additional information or guidance; the exhibition gives clients the opportunity to examine the authenticity, the attribution, the provenance, the state of preservation, the type and the quality of any piece presented and, where necessary, to suggest corrections to inaccuracies found in the catalogue. Before taking part in the auction, everyone interested in buying a lot undertakes to inspect it accurately, if necessary with the support of an expert, in order to assess the features mentioned above. Once sold, the auction house does not accept any claims; the seller and Czerny’s International Auction House will have no responsibility for any error or omission included in the catalogue.

A. Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to the client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Czerny’s International Auction House has no responsibility for any error or omission. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free form wear and tear, imperfections or the effect of aging.
B. Colors shown in this pictures may vary slightly from actual items due to different screen settings.
C. The dates given for metallic cartridge breechloading firearms may refer to the (probable) patent/model date, and not the manufacture date.