Handgun Inventor SAMUEL COLT - Unique Autograph Ltr

Samuel Colt (1814-1862) Inventor and industralist. Colt created the 19th-century handgun, and the successful gun company which bore his name. Colt was 16 years old and sailing on a ship to India when he carved a model of a single-barreled pistol with automatically revolving chambers. The idea was to enable the pawl attached to the hammer of a percussion gun to move as the gun was cocked, turning the cylinder mechanically. Colt thus became the inventor of what would be the definitive part of the first successful revolver. Colt returned to Boston in 1831 with a model of his projected revolver. With money from his father he had two prototypes fabricated, but the first failed to fire and the second exploded. Out of funds, Colt had to scrimp to make his living and to continue the development of his revolver, which he was certain would make him a fortune. His exposure to chemistry had introduced him to nitrous oxide, or laughing gas. Colt now set himself up as the "celebrated Dr. Coult of New York, London and Calcutta" and for three years toured Canada and the United States as "a practical chemist," giving demonstrations for which he charged twenty-five cent admission. Those who inhaled the gas became intoxicated for a few minutes and would perform ludicrous feats, to the delight of the audience. In the meantime, Colt had hired John Pearson of Baltimore to make improved models of his revolver but he was at his wits' end trying to keep himself and the constantly grumbling Pearson going. Borrowing a thousand dollars from his father, Colt went to Europe and obtained patents in England and France. In 1836, Colt received U.S. Patent No. 138 for his revolver.The following is believed to be draft (there are have numerous line-outs and corrections by Colt) of an autograph letters signed, written while "Dr. Coult" was in Canada to "Mr. Walker," believed to be Samuel Hamilton Walker (1817-1847) Walker served as captain of the inactive Company C of the United States Mounted Rifles until the outbreak of the Mexican War. Colt credited Walker with proposed improvements. The new six-shooter was named the Walker Colt. This and the preceeding lot are exceedingly rare and the only known examples of correspondence signed with his Coult "stagename"! 7" x 8 ¾" for page (front and back) autograph letter signed, "S. Coult," with a postscript also signed "S.Coult," St. Johns, New Brunswick, September 30, 1834. "…I shall commence my lectures here as some as possible & you shal here from me again in about a week by a double letter…get a small riffle with a bore barrel that wil just chamber a large size buk shot, when rifled without a pouch & let me please make a pair of small pocket pistols out of the little end of the barrel that will carry 6 chargies each . I want them to be as small as possible and no longer than the first paire he made tel him to execise the best of his judgment in putting the lock together. I hope to think he has already finished the…Bolster Pistol & Rifle that I ordered before I left & described in my letter from Montryal if they are finished you had better take charge of them & don't let them be seen by any body. If Pearson cannot find a good rifle barril in Baltimore I wish you would write to Wm W Tryon of Philadelphy for one that is already cut…."