Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have an interesting mid-1800s copy of a Colt 1851 style of revolver. Copies of notable arms popped up everywhere around the world in the 1800s because patents were only good for the countries they were manually patented in. For example, if I patented my revolver in the United States and wanted to get credit for my patent in a different country such as Belgium, I would have to go to Belgium and patent it there. Most manufacturers would not bother taking out a patent in other countries for various reasons; it was rarely worthwhile. This Belgian Colt has an interesting look because to the rear of the cylinder everything is a completely different style to the 1851. I would not say it is better looking, but it is unique.
“Blade front and hammer notch rear sights. The bottom barrel flat is mark “CH CHARLIER / BREVETE” under the loading lever. The left side of the barrel lug is marked with a “crown/U” proof. Cylinder engraved with the similar Indian scene found on Colt Dragoons and is marked in script “colts/patent” and with the Liege “ELG” in an oval proof on the rear. Iron spur trigger guard and back strap and fitted with one-piece smooth grips.”
Lot 243: Belgian Copy of Colt Percussion Revolver. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved May 18, 2022, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/69/243/belgian-copy-of-colt-percussion-revolver.
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