Very Scarce Documented Patent Arms Mfg. Co. Colt Paterson Second Model Ring Lever Percussion Revolving Rifle, as Pictured in "The Paterson Colt Book"

This is an exceptionally rare and historically significant Second Model Ring Lever rifle (No. 2), manufactured by Samuel Colt at his Paterson, New Jersey factory between 1838 and 1841. According to authoritative sources — including The Book of Colt Firearms (1971) and The Paterson Colt Book by R.L. Wilson — approximately 500 of these rifles were produced, serial numbered starting at 1, following the earlier roughly 200 First Model No. 1 rifles built from 1837-1838.

Key Features & Significance:

• Distinctive ring lever located on the bottom of the frame ahead of the trigger guard, used to rotate the cylinder and cock the internal hammer.
• The Second Model frame lacks a top strap, differentiating it from later models.
• A loading lever mounted on the right side, plus a capping cutout in the recoil shield.
• The cylinder exhibits rounded rear shoulders and features a rare, original engraved scene of a centaur aiming a gun at a deer, accompanied by three horsemen — an extraordinary survival, as these detailed cylinder engravings often suffered wear through use.
• The barrel has dovetail-mounted blade front and elevation-adjustable notch rear sights.
• The top barrel flat is stamped with the original “” marking reading toward the muzzle.
• The rifle’s serial number “231” is matching and visible on multiple components including the barrel lug, rear cylinder face, cylinder collar, upper and lower tang interiors, frame interior, and buttplate toe — a strong indicator of originality.
• The walnut stock features a left-side cheekpiece and is fitted with a crescent iron buttplate.
• Notably, about 100 of these rifles were reportedly purchased by the Army of the Republic of Texas in 1839, underscoring its importance in early American and Texan history.

Provenance:

This example comes from distinguished collections — The Dennis A. LeVett Collection and The Charles Marx Collection — adding to its collectible prestige.

Rarity:

Surviving examples of Second Model Ring Lever rifles are extremely rare, and this rifle’s documentation and condition make it a prized artifact of early American firearms manufacturing and Colt history, representing one of the earliest attempts to develop a practical revolving rifle mechanism.

This rifle stands as a superb example of early Colt innovation, combining technical ingenuity, historical significance, and craftsmanship — a must-have for serious collectors and historians of American arms.