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Colt experts: Paterson opinions wanted
Spider7115
Member Posts: 29,704 ✭✭✭
Would one of you Colt experts please convince me that this "Baby Paterson" is legit? I have no intention of bidding on it but it looks toally fake to me - the markings, the engraving and the condition. Additionally, I would think that IF it was real, it would have irrefutable provenance with references. More pictures are on the auction site.
Prove me wrong - please. We're never too old to learn.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=85367808
Prove me wrong - please. We're never too old to learn.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=85367808
Comments
Some observations:
A lot of tool marks visible possibly recent. The cylinder scene looks chemically etched, not rolled. But maybe the Patersons were etched in the first place. If this is a real Pat, "in the white" it is a great rarity that would go at a much higher number than likely on this offering. From the wording of the seller, to me it looks like he is just " a foolin' " by offering it. Real or phony, I'd love to have it as a new plaything.
1. Would ol' Sam have let a firearm leave his factory with second-rate engraving (frame/backstrap)? Rough machine marks? And is it known that early New Jersey Colts had poorer quality finish-work than the later production we've all come to know and admire?
2. Cylinder depicts Saggitarius shooting a pistol. Is that known on other early Colts?
3. Was ol' Sam known to hire meskins in his shop for cheap labor?
The nipple cutouts though are nice and sharp. They were milled......... last week.
Grips poorly fitted
Wow! Tough call. I would have to find out:
1. Would ol' Sam have let a firearm leave his factory with second-rate engraving (frame/backstrap)? Rough machine marks? And is it known that early New Jersey Colts had poorer quality finish-work than the later production we've all come to know and admire?
2. Cylinder depicts Saggitarius shooting a pistol. Is that known on other early Colts?
3. Was ol' Sam known to hire meskins in his shop for cheap labor?
Actually, it's supposed to be a "Centaur" which was apparently on all of the Patersons except for the "Number 5 belt model" which had the stagecoach holdup scene like on the Model 1849. However, this looks like very amateurish engraving and the seller has a starting bid of $20,000 with a reserve. Either he's PT Barnum waiting for a sucker or he really believes he has a rare Colt. I think the former applies as if it was a genuine engraved Paterson, the starting bid would be 10 times that amount and it would have a bona fide pedigree.