Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Herb Houze
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Colt Belt Model Paterson Revolver No. 2
Belt Model Paterson Revolver (No. 2). Made c.1837-40; totaling approximately 850 (including the No. 3 Belt Model).
31 caliber. 5-shot cylinders. Barrel lengths from 2-1/2" to 5-1/2"; octagonal; without attached loading levers.
Varnished walnut grips. Blued finish on all metal parts.
A straight gripped version of the Belt Paterson, the No. 2 Model shared its serial range, from 1 through about 850 with the No. 3 Belt Model. Barrels were marked: Patent Arms M’g Co Paterson N-J. Colt’s Pt. Usually it is necessary to disassemble the pistol before discovering serial number stampings (on some the number is visible on the bevel at bottom of the grip). Cylinder scene: the roll engraved Centaur motif, including COLT within the four-horse-head trademark.
A quick means of identifying the No. 2 Belt pistol from the Baby Paterson is by comparison of weights. A 4" barrel Baby weighs only 11 ounces, while the No. 2 pistol of the same barrel length weighs 20 ounces. All No. 2 Belt pistols have the straight type grip.
Standard Model, without attached loading lever; rear of cylinder either rounded or square back:
5B-003
| 5B-003 | Values—Good $18,500 | Fine $47,500 |
Ehlers Model (also known as Fifth Model Ehlers), a distinct, separate model, with attached loading lever; capping channel on recoil shield; cylinder 1-1/16" length with rounded rear; barrel markings lack the M’g Co having a space where these had been removed from the roll die. Total about 500 made (including the 4th Model Ehlers of the Pocket Model No. 1). Made c.1840-43.
Rare:
5B-004
| 5B-004 | Values—Good $18,500 | Fine $50,000 |
Colt Belt Model Paterson Revolver No. 3
Belt Model Paterson Revolver (No. 3). Manufactured from about 1837 to 1840; total run of approximately 850 (including the No. 2 Belt Model).
31 caliber; 5-shot cylinders. Barrel lengths from 3-1/2" to 5-1/2"; octagonal in shape, with or without attached loading levers.
Grips of varnished walnut. Blued finish on all metal parts; a few pistols had casehardened hammers.
This medium size series of Paterson pistols shared the serial number range with the No. 2 Belt Model, beginning with 1 and running to about 850. Barrels were marked: Patent Arms M’g Co. Paterson N-J Colt’s Pt. Serial numbers generally not visible until taking the gun apart (though on some will be observed on the butt area of the grip). The Centaur scene, with the word COLT and the four-horse-head trademark was the roll engraved cylinder scene.
The Belt Model series was the only group of Paterson revolvers produced having two types of grips—the straight and the flared styles. Attached loading levers are scarce in the Belt production, and the round shouldered cylinders are more often seen than the straight or square back type.
The major variations are:
Standard pistol, with flared grip; without attached loading lever:
5B-005
| 5B-005 | Values—Good $30,000 | Fine $70,000 |
Standard pistol; flared grip with attached loading lever and capping cutout on the recoil shield. Very rare:
5B-006
| 5B-006 | Values—Good $32,500 | Fine $75,000 |
Colt Holster Model Paterson Revolver No. 5
Holster Model Paterson Revolver (No. 5) (also known as the “Texas Paterson”). Manufactured c. 1838-40; in a total of about 1,000.
36 caliber. 5-shot cylinders. Barrel lengths from 4" to 12"; standard at 7-1/2" and 9". All are octagonal in shape, with or without attached loading levers.
Grips of varnished walnut. Metal parts blued, with casehardened hammer and frame.
The largest size in the Paterson handgun production, the “Texas” Model had its own serial range, numbered from 1 up through about 1000. Barrels were marked: Patent Arms M’g. Co.
Paterson N·J.-Colt’s Pt. Serial numbers generally cannot be observed without taking the pistol apart; but at the least are often found on the bottom of the grip. Cylinder roll scene was the stagecoach holdup, including the word COLT.
The Texas Paterson has had the greatest appeal to the collector, due to its large size, the relatively heavy caliber, and the association of the type with the Texas Ranger Jack Hays and verified use by military and civilians on the frontier. Many of the specimens of this model known today show rather hard use, and thus a Texas Paterson in outstanding condition is one of the great prizes of Colt collecting. A verified martially marked specimen is a great rarity and worth a considerable premium.
Major variations are:
Standard model, without attached loading lever, and with rounded or square shoulders to the cylinder:
5B-007
| 5B-007 | Values—Good $50,000 | Fine $110,000 |
Standard model, with attached loading lever, capping cutout on the recoil shield, and rounded shoulders to the cylinder:
5B-008
| 5B-008 | Values—Good $55,000 | Fine $120,000 |
Colt First Model Ring Lever Rifle
First Model Ring Lever Rifle. Manufactured c. 1837-38; total production about 200. Pulling