A Fine and Rare Nine-Inch Colt Texas Paterson No. 5 Holster Model Revolver, with Eight Silver Band Inlays

Serial no. 148, .36 caliber, 5-shot cylinder with stagecoach holdup cylinder roll scene, top of 9-inch octagonal barrel with standard roll marking of "Patent Arms M'g. Co. Paterson N.J. Colt's Pt." with snake and star terminals; German silver front sight blade at muzzle; COLT within band as part of cylinder roll; German silver inlaid bands as follows: one at muzzle of barrel, two on bottom of barrel lug, two on top of barrel breech, and two on recoil shield; backstrap with scalloped German silver escutcheon inlay. 148 marked on barrel breech, partially visible on breech of cylinder, also marked on trigger, bottom of frame plate (visible when trigger flopped down), inside of backstrap, partially visible on bottom of right grip panel (1 and 8); pistol not taken further apart to check for other numbers, which will certainty be found. All parts original, though wedge lacks number marking. Finely knurled hammer spur. Select walnut grips, originally varnished.

Condition: Very good to fine. Gray patina, pitting primarily on barrel, with spots on other parts; barrel marking 70%, as is cylinder scene, both with light wear; traces marking of number 148 on cylinder breech (1 clearly visible). Small rectangle inset of steel on bottom of frame, likely done at factory when revolver produced. Traces varnish on grips, which have a very high polish; minor chipping from butt and at juncture with frame at lower section of top of grips. Bore fine with light pitting.

Note: Early production, with round back cylinder configuration. The German silver inlays and the select grain walnut grips (two panels secured by glue at center) are indicative of the extra-quality, special production nature of this revolver. Nine-inch Paterson Holster Model revolvers have a lower survival rate than No. 5 revolvers with 7 1/2-inch lengths, due to heavy use by Texas forces, as well as by U.S. troops.
Accompanied by letter and original invoice of 1976, from Herb Glass.

Provenance: John Driscoll (purchased 1976 from Herb Glass)

For comparable Texas Paterson revolvers, see R.L. Wilson and Dennis LeVett, The Paterson Colt Book, Chapter V, "The No. 5 Holster or Texas Model Revolver," which illustrates only the following banded revolvers with escutcheon backstrap inlays: nos. 515, 525, 574, and 944 (also engraved). Chapter X, on Paterson engraving, pictures Texas Paterson revolvers nos. 351, 530, 580, 603, 882, 940, 982 and 984, each with German silver bands and engraved decoration. Many of these arms are presently in museum collections.

Estimate: $80000 - $150000