Lot 124

Colt Paterson Model 1839/1848 Percussion Revolving Carbine

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Colt Paterson Model 1839/1848 Percussion Revolving Carbine

Estimate: $25,000 - $40,000

Starting Bid: $20,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Rare Colt Paterson Model 1839/1848 "Albert Foster Model" Percussion Revolving Carbine The Model 1839 carbines were the most popular of Samuel Colt's Paterson long guns and remained in Colt's inventories into the early 1850s prior to the introduction of the Model 1855 revolving rifles. According to page 217 of "The Paterson Colt Book" by Wilson, in addition to approximately 250 sold on the commercial market, 300 were purchased for the U.S. Navy along with 60 for the U.S. Dragoons, 180 were purchased for the Texas Navy along with 120 for the Texas Army and Rangers, and the State of Rhode Island purchased 24. As detailed on page 213 of "The Paterson Colt Book," Rhode Island also purchased carbines from John Ehlers. Samuel Colt repurchased "not more than fifty" of these carbines c. early spring 1848 as he was reviving his firearms business and "modernized the majority of these by having the cylinders turned down, leaving them bright and without cylinder roll scenes, altered the revolving mechanism by threading the breech and inserting a plug machined with ratchets, and then altering the breech of the receiver accordingly. The barrels were refinished through a careful polish and re-browning, mountings and receivers were reblued or re-casehardened, and the buttstocks were varnished." Some of these carbines are believed to have been the carbines exhibited by Colt at the Crystal Palace at the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in New York City in 1853, and some remained in Colt's collection and then the factory collection for many years thereafter. Collectors used to believe these carbines had been built by Colt's New York Sales Manager Albert Foster Jr. in the early 20th century. This rare carbine has the matching serial number "413" on the bottom of the barrel at the breech, rear of the cylinder, front of the hammer, left side of the recoil shield, on the backside of the trigger guard extension, and the toe of the buttplate. The barrel has a German silver cone front sight and a notch rear sight and is marked with "~*Patent Arms M'g. Co. Paterson, N.J.-Colt's Pt. *~" on the right side. The wedge is marked "50". Sling swivels are mounted to the underside of the barrel and buttstock. The buttstock has a double stamped "JRHJR" cartouche indicating the carbine belonged to John R. Hegeman Jr. who was a pioneer in Colt collecting and apparently had great connections within the Colt company that afforded him the opportunity to own many pre-production prototype and serial number 1 guns in the early 20th century. Thus, this is almost certainly one of the carbines that remained in the factory collection for decades. Another Paterson carbine, serial number 525, also in Hegeman's collection and similarly marked with his cartouche was previously sold by Rock Island Auction Company.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1839

BBL: 24 3/8 inch part round

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 32

Finish: brown/bright/blue/casehardened

Serial Number413

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: The J.R. Hegeman Jr. Collection; A Private Collection
  • Condition: Very fine with 60% plus of the factory brown finish on the barrel, silver-gray and light brown patina on the cylinder, 75% plus case colors on the hammer, flashes of case colors on the lower frame assembly, 85% plus factory high polish blue finish on the upper frame assembly and patches of factory blue on the trigger guard and buttplate, gray and brown patina on the balance, chipped rear sight, and scattered light marks and scratches. The buttstock is fine with some faint cracks and chips, a small hole on the left side of the butt, and some flaking of the varnish. Mechanically functions.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000