C437 COLT PATTERSON FIRST MODEL NO. 1 RING LEVER PERCUSSION RIFLE [A]

Description C437 COLT PATTERSON FIRST MODEL NO. 1 RING LEVER PERCUSSION RIFLE; 24 3/8 inch octagon barrel chambered in 38 caliber with a dark bore with some light roughness and well defined rifling. Sights include a blade front and a dovetail mounted niter blued “V” notch rear. Top barrel flat is engraved with “Colt’s Patent” and “Patent Arms Man’g. Co. Paterson N. Jersey.” between the rear sight and the top strap of the action with arrow terminals at either end of the legend and between “Colt’s Patent” and “Patent Arms”. Barrel retains strong traces of original bright blue finish and on the protected bottom area of the barrel with the balance fading to a smooth brown and gray patina around the rest of the barrel. Action retains strong traces of original bright blue finish. Eight-shot revolving cylinder is roll-engraved with a very crisp original horsemen and deer hunting scene. Varnished walnut stock has a cheekpiece that is inlaid with the Colt four-horse-head trademark in German silver with some scattered light scratches and handling mars with a crescent steel buttplate. Mechanically functions fine. With a production of about 200 from 1837-1838 the No. 1 Ring Lever rifle is one of the rarest of all Colts and is also important as one of the earliest firearms made by Samuel Colt.  ANTIQUE   $ 45,000.