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1848 Wesson Stevens & Miller Leavitt Belt Revolver Hartford CT Prototype Pistol Sam Colt 1 Known
Guns International #: 101133026 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Colt Revolvers - Antique - Antique Revolvers - Percussion
Seller's Information
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Seller: Jeremiah Johnson Trading
Company: Jeremiah Johnson Trading
Member Since: 1/27/12
First Name: Greg
Last Name: Schimetschek
State: Connecticut
Zip: 06423
Country: United States
Phone: (860) 873-1092
Number of Active Listings: 4
Total Number of Listings: 217
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
3 days
Payment Types Accepted: Check (personal checks take 7-10 days to clear), money order, credit card (no fee), or wire
About Us: Jeremiah Johnson Trading is one of the most experienced and trusted dealers of pre-1899 antique arms with over 40 years of collecting. We specialize in Colt, Winchester, Remington, Smith & Wesson, Parker, large-bore fowling guns, Revolutionary & Civil War arms, collectible Bowie & folding knives and more! We are also avid collectors of historic race cars & memorabilia. Visit us online at jeremiahjohnsontrading or find us on Facebook and Instagram.
Description:
Jeremiah Johnson Trading is one of the most experienced and trusted dealers of antique arms with over 40 years of collecting. We also specialize in antique cars & petroliana, Revolutionary and Civil War artifacts, 19th century nautical & western memorabilia, early Bowie and folding knives, American folk art, and colonial era furnishings. Visit us online at JeremiahJohnsonTrading or find us on Facebook. Our shop is located at 1618 Saybrook Rd. Haddam, CT. Look for the gold '55 Chevy road sign! ~Trades and offers are always considered~ Exceedingly Rare & Historically Significant Only Known Example M1848 Wesson, Stevens, & Miller, Hartford, Connecticut, Leavitt's Patent Seven-Shot Percussion Belt Revolver Prototype, .31 Cal, mfg. 1848. This significant piece of firearms history was recently discovered in a suitcase which had been hidden away for more than 80 years. The contents once belonged to a New Haven bartender who worked during the early 1900's and likely acquired the pistol during that time. This very pistol may be considered the first American made revolver to compete with Samuel Colt and is one of just two known Hartford marked examples. The other Hartford revolver, a six-shot .40 caliber Dragoon, is on display at the Connecticut State Library's Colt Collection and has been in their possession since the Colt lawsuit trial against Daniel Leavitt and the Massachusetts Arms Co. in 1852. While the six-shot Dragoon did go into regular production in 1850, no other seven-shot revolvers of any type were produced. Less than a year after Samuel Colt had been issued a patent for a "revolving gun" in 1836, Daniel Leavitt was granted a patent for an "improvement on many chambered cylinder firearm". As Colt slowly struggled along with production of his revolvers, Leavitt continued to improve the design of his gun and was searching for a manufacturer to produce it. After completing the contract for the Walker Dragoons in 1847, Samuel Colt contracted a crew of men from Eli Whitney to continue production of the Walker pattern in Hartford (the Whitneyville/Hartford Transitional Walkers). Two of these men however, Joshua Stevens and William Miller, began secretly designing and making parts for a revolver of their own design on Colt's watch. Upon discovering this in July of 1848, Samuel Colt fired both men. The two immediately took their interests to Edwin Wesson, a gunsmith who's shop was also located in Hartford. Meanwhile, Daniel Leavitt offered to supply the US Government with a Dragoon revolver superior to that of Colt and to have Edwin Wesson manufacture it. My mid 1848 the trio began making prototypes at Wesson's shop and applied for a patent. As noted in the article "Handguns of The Massachusetts Arms Company" by L. W. Jones, "the pre-production or prototype revolvers...were made by Edwin Wesson at Hartford...these earliest revolvers were marked D. Leavitt's Patent Manufactured by E. Wesson, Stevens, & Miller, Hartford CT. It is not known how many revolvers were made with this marking, but only one specimen is known today, that in the Colt Collection at the Connecticut State Library". More information regarding the Hartford prototypes can be found in the book "Samuel Colt: Arms, Art, & Invention" by Herb Houze. By the time the patent was granted in 1849, Edwin Wesson had died and manufacture was contracted to the Massachusetts Arms Co. in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Regular production of Leavitt's Dragoon and Belt revolvers, known as the "Wesson & Leavitt", began in 1850. The guns were short lived though, as Samuel Colt filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the firm the following year. Colt won the case in 1852 and production of the Wesson & Leavitt ceased. Just 800 Dragoons, 1,000 belt revolvers, and a handful of revolving rifles had been produced. The revolver offered here measures 9" long and features a turned part octagon/part round 3 1/2" barrel with a German Silver bead front sight. The top strap is inscribed in very small font "LEAVITT'S PATENT MANUFACTURED BY / WESSON, STEVENS, & MILLER HARTFORD CT". A mark which appears to be the number "1" is stamped on the barrel lug. The gun is beautifully engraved throughout and while some of the engraving along the backstrap is partially obscured most remains sharp and clear. Overall the metal has a dark plum patina thinning to gray with very fine scattered pitting throughout. The burl wood grips are very nicely figured yet have turned a blackened color with age. They retain a untouched original piano finish with no chips. There is a stable old 1/2" crack on either side of the backstrap along the top behind the frame with a tight 5/8" crack below the lock. Additionally there is some shrinkage where the grips meet the frame. A pin ahead of the barrel lug slides forward and the barrel swings up to facilitate removal of the cylinder. The barrel swings freely and locks up tight. The hammer cocks, locks up, and fires strong and crisp however the cylinder is currently frozen in place and will not rotate. I am very confident that further soaking with proper solvents will free it up. The hammer screw head has broken away and is missing along with one of the nipples, the remaining six are all clean originals. The bore shows very strong rifling front to back with fine surface rust forming. It should clean up nicely with a proper scrubbing. This gun is a crucial piece of history within the timeline of revolver development and is the very first revolver manufactured to compete with Samuel Colt made by Colt's own employees. To reiterate it's rarity, it is one of just two known Hartford marked prototypes known and is totally unique as a Hartford marked seven-shot belt model. No other Hartford prototype has ever been offered for sale. Whether your a collector of early revolvers or Colt firearms this will be of premier interest as it is the missing link that paved the way for revolver development beyond those made by Samuel Colt. Jeremiah Johnson Trading sells antique firearms manufactured prior to 1899 and muzzleloading blackpowder reproductions only. For the purpose of these conditions the term "antique firearm" will hence include muzzleloading blackpowder reproductions. Buyers must be 21 years of age or older and have no felony convictions to purchase antique firearms. Antique firearms do not require Federal licensing and may be shipped directly to the buyer with the following exceptions. No antique firearms will be shipped to Washington D. C. or any of the five boroughs of New York City or residents thereof. Some restrictions may apply to antique firearms shipped to California and will be noted in the item description if applicable. Any handgun (antique or muzzleloading blackpowder reproduction) shipped to New Jersey must ship to a licensed FFL holder. Any muzzleloading blackpowder reproduction rifle, shotgun, or handgun shipped to Illinois must ship to an FFL holder. All antique firearms shipped to Ohio must ship to a licensed FFL holder. No international sales of antique firearms which may fire conventional metallic cartridges or any reproductions regardless of ignition. Antique muzzleloaders, or antiques which fire obsolete cartridges, may be shipped internationally however it is the responsibility of the buyer to know and abide by their local laws and provide proof that the antique arm is legal to receive and own. Absolutely no sales of items containing antique ivory to New York, New Jersey, or California. No sales of bear parts to Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia, or West Virginia. Absolutely no international sales of knives or animal parts including items which contain antique ivory. Payment can be made by way of money order, banker's check, or personal check (Please allow 7-10 days for clearance on personal checks). Credit cards accepted for antique arms (no additional fees). If not satisfied with an item within 3 days of receiving it, simply return the item in the same condition as shipped for a full refund, minus return shipping costs. Cleaning, disassembly, or altering of a firearm in any way will void inspection privileges. Layaway may be allowed upon negotiation, but will void inspection privileges. Buyer pays actual shipping & insurance costs. Occasionally a post-1898 firearm from my personal collection may be sold under this account however it will be noted that any such transaction is a personal sale in no way affiliated with our business. Any such arm will be shipped to a licensed FFL or C&R holder in accordance with Federal law. All firearms are sold as collector's items and are not warranted safe for shooting. Please consult a competent gunsmith prior to shooting any firearm. Message or call with any questions about this firearm, or any of our other items at 860-873-1092 (office) or 860-345-2100 (shop).
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Wesson, Stevens, & Miller
Model: Belt Revolver
Serial Number: 1
Caliber Info: .31
Manufacture Date: 1848
Engraving: Yes