Lot 3165

Rare and Desirable Colt No. 3 Belt Model Paterson Revolver

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Rare and Desirable Colt No. 3 Belt Model Paterson Revolver

Estimate: $18,000 - $27,500

Starting Bid: $16,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 23, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Rare and Desirable Colt No. 3 Belt Model Paterson Percussion Revolver The rare revolving arms of Samuel Colt's Patent Arms Manufacturing Company based in Paterson, New Jersey, represent a short lived but historically significant chapter in firearms history. Following Colt's patenting of his innovative revolver designs in England in 1835 and the U.S. in 1836, he began producing and promoting his wares to the world. Though small in number, his first revolvers made a significant impact and led to the development of the famous Colt Walker in 1847 and the subsequent rebirth of his firearms business and the world wide fame of the Colt revolver that persists to this day. This revolver is a No. 3 Belt Model Paterson. These were numbered within the same range as the No. 2 Belt Model revolvers, and total production of this model reached approximately 450. This early example was manufactured prior to the spring of 1840 based on the squareback cylinder. R. L. Wilson classified this variation at the "Model A" which in addition to squareback shoulders on the cylinder has flared walnut grips with rounded butt, flared barrel lug with double curve, and small letters in the barrel address. The barrel has a small German silver blade front sight and "-Patent Arms M'g Co Paterson, N-J Colt's Pt.-" marked on top. The cylinder has the roll engraved centaur scene. The serial number "22" in fairly large numerals is marked on the wedge, barrel lug, cylinder, turning ring, and trigger and is re-marked butt of the left grip in smaller numerals. The frame is unnumbered. The replacement grip is tightly fit to the back strap and could not be dismounted.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: Paterson

BBL: 5 1/2 inch octagon

Gauge: .34

Finish: blue/casehardened

Grips: walnut

Serial Number22

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection
  • Condition: Very good. The revolver retains 40% original blue and some silvered out original case colors and has gray and brown patina on the balance, minor oxidation, and generally fairly light overall wear. The barrel legend and roll-engraved cylinder scene are distinct. The refinished grip is slightly undersized and has limited minor handling wear and dings. 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