This incredible cased set dates to 1851 and was owned by Hartford businessman Henry Bruce Beach, then one of the partners in the Woodruff & Beach Iron Works, and features scarce animal vignettes on the 6 inch barrel and an incredibly scarce matching second 4 inch barrel as well as a suite of accessories. This set is one of only a very few known with both 6 inch and 4 inch barrels. Another cased factory engraved transitional Baby Dragoon revolver from 1849 with both 6 and 4 inch barrels was owned by Cyprian N. Beach (1828-1887), the brother of the owner of this cased set. That set was sold by Rock Island Auction in May 2017 for $172,500 as part of The Robert M. Lee Collection. The current revolver is in even finer overall condition and features more deluxe engraving. It features the distinctive early style of engraving but is more refined in style than the typical "donut scroll" engraved Colts from the early 1850s. The blued 6 inch barrel has a floral border engraving at the muzzle, scroll engraving on the breech section and the casehardened loading lever arm flats with shaded backgrounds and some crosshatching, a vignette of a cougar or bobcat on the left ahead of the wedge, a horse head (colt) on the right side ahead, "Saml Colt" in ornate script with accents inscribed on top, and a diamond and dot "chain" style border at the breech. The blued 4 inch barrel has a different floral border design, similar scroll engraving, including on the loading lever arm flats, "-ADDRESS SAML COLT/NEW-YORK CITY-" in two lines marked on top within engraved decorative brackets, and a zig-zag line border at the breech. The cylinder has the classic stagecoach hold-up scene. The frame has "COLT'S/PATENT" hand inscribed within an engraved banner on the right side of the frame (very unusual), near full-coverage scroll engraving with shaded backgrounds, some crosshatch sections, a floral bloom on the recoil shield, and bestial design and more scroll patterns on the hammer. The heads of the various screws are engraved with floral blooms. The silver plated trigger guard features a patriotic American shield along with scrollwork on the bow, gadrooning along the edges, and scroll and floral patterns. The silver-plated back strap has a shell design by the hammer, scroll patterns, and "H B Beach/HARTFORD CONN" finely inscribed in a panel on the back. The grip is nicely figured, deluxe walnut with a "piano" varnish finish. The factory "." marking denoting factory engraving is marked by the lower serial numbers, including on the 4 inch barrel. The set has all-matching serial numbers aside from the wedge of the 4 inch barrel which is marked "063" instead of "016." Given the wedge is engraved with a matching design, it was switched out either before the revolver was sent to be engraved or in the engraver's shop. The part is clearly original to the set. The revolver comes in stunning rosewood presentation case with "HBB" inscribed on the lid escutcheon in highly ornate letters. The case contains an early "COLT'S/PATENT" pocket flask with eagle and revolver design on both sides, an early brass "COLT'S/PATENT" ball and bullet mold without a sprue cutter, a blued L-shaped combination screwdriver and nipple wrench, a cap tin with lime green "100/COLT'S PISTOL/CAPS/MADE BY/ELEY BROS./LONDON" label, several balls/bullets, and a key. Henry Bruce Beach (1817-1907): A full binder of information plus additional files are included on the life of Henry Bruce Beach. He came from a wealthy, old Connecticut family and became a prominent Hartford industrialist. Like Samuel Colt, as a young man, he went to sea. He later worked for Beach & Co. a dye and chemical company run by his father George. In the 1840s, he was a member of the Connecticut Light Guards. He also served as foreman for the Sack and Bucket Company of the volunteer fire department in Hartford. In 1842, he became an agent for Hanks & Woodruff, then operating the Hartford Iron Foundry. In 1844, he purchased the interest of his father-in-law Truman Hanks who had founded the firm. In 1853, the firm was then renamed the Woodruff & Beach Iron Works. Original documents from the company in 1853 and 1860 included with the set list Samuel Woodruff as the company president, T.S. Root as the secretary, and Beach as the treasurer. The company grew to become one of the largest manufacturers of steam engines, boilers, heavy machinery, and precision iron and brass castings in the country, supplying steam engines and boilers for several U.S. military sloops during the Civil War. They employed up to 600 men. They also supplied the steam engines for Colt's factory starting in the late 1840s and probably the brass and iron castings as well. Henry Beach became good friends with Samuel Colt, and both served on several local boards together. For example, both men served on Hartford's 4th of July celebration "Committee on Invited Guests" along side Mayor Flower and two other men in 1851. Beach's brother Cyprian Nichols Beech noted above later married Colt's sister-in-law Hetty Jarvis in 1867. In 1871, Beach purchased the company at auction after financial issued stemming from Samuel Woodruff and renamed the boiler business H.B. Beach & Son and leased out the other operations which continued as The Hartford Foundry & Machine Co. After his death in 1907, his son, Captain Henry Ledlie Beach (1842-1924) continued the boiler business, and it remained active even after his death as a division of the Whitlock Coil Pipe Co. The young Beach served as a captain in I Company of the 16th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Period sources indicate the company was formed of men from Woodruff & Beach's factory and Colt's. Eric Vaule purchased the revolver around 1980 from a Hartford, Connecticut, college girl who had inherited it. It has since been in several well-known collections (including Alan Kelley, Norm Flayderman, and Richard Ellis) and was featured in "Fine Colts: The Dr. Joseph Murphy Collection" on page 28 where it is inaccurately attributed as belonging to Hetty Jarvis Beach as well as pages 88 and 89 of "Colt Single Action from Patersons to Peacemakers" by Dennis Adler on pages 88 and 89. Provenance: Henry Bruce Beach; Unknown Private Collection; The Eric Vaule Collection; The Allan Kelley Collection; The Norm Flayderman Collection; The Richard Ellis Collection; The Dr. Joseph Murphy Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection

Excellent with 98% plus original high polish blue finish on the barrel and cylinder, 98% vibrant original case colors on the frame, recoil shield, loading cut-out, and hammer; attractive French-gray appearance on most of the frame and loading lever, and most of the original silver plating on the iron grip straps. The engraving and inscription remain crisp. The silver has taken on an attractive age darkened patina on the silver. The revolver shows no signs over having been fired. The cylinder has the faintest of drag lines suggesting it has rarely even been rotated. There is very minimal age and storage related wear mainly along the back strap where it was in contact with the case. The grip is also excellent and has bright original varnish and very faint handling and storage marks that very well could have been present since the day it left the factory. Mechanically excellent. The case is exceptionally fine and has generally very minor age and storage related wear. The case's brass furniture has an attractive golden aged appearance. The lid has a minor crack. The accessories are also excellent and retain nearly all of their original finishes and display only faint handling and storage marks. This is an absolutely incredible cased set in terms of rarity, condition, artistry, and history. Early cased sets like this were a key part of Samuel Colt's public relations campaigns that helped make his name a household name both in the U.S. and abroad. This is the finest of its type we have ever offered at auction!