This rifle is featured and described on pages 20-21 of "The Colt Engraving Book Volume 1" by R. L. Wilson and has the following extensive description: Custom made Model 1839 sporting rifle (built from carbine action), serial number 177; with special 32 1/8-Inch heavy barrel. Extensively embellished with silver overlays on stock, and extensive silver inlays as follows on the backstrap (inscribed sterling silver name plate), scroll motifs on barrel lug, border motifs on top and bottom of barrel lug, arrow motif at muzzle of barrel (just to the rear of silver blade front sight set on silver base), two barrel bands at muzzle, two bands of 4 3/4-inch length and 3 3/32-inch width on top of barrel breech, two barrel bands at breech, seven bands on bottom of barrel lug, two scroll motifs on each side of the barrel lug, and two cylinder bands. Silver inlaid band on rear section of recoil shield, just forward of wrist of buttstock. Compass with sterling silver case, inlaid on left side of buttstock, inscribed: J. R. Comer/I bought/tuesday Oct. V...th/1837. Heavyweight octagonal barrel with lug braised to barrel proper; 15/16" wide at breech and muzzle. Faceted rear sight with adjustable ramp. Texas Paterson roll die marking used to mark legend on the bottom of barrel. .44 caliber; eight-shot squareback cylinder. The cylinder scene with "Patent Arms Manufactory Patterson N. Jersey" and "COLT'S PATENT" markings still visible, as well as traces of the cylinder scene traditional for the Model 1839 carbine. Select walnut stock with length of pull of 13 7/8-Inches (from the trigger to top of buttplate). The escalloped plate engraved: J.R. Comer. The buttstock with silver buttplate. The classic fluted cheekpiece (its style influenced by the Kentucky Rifle and the Plains Rifle) inlaid with oval sterling silver escutcheon. Right side of buttstock inlaid with sterling silver escutcheon with floral terminals at left and right; secured to the stock with silver pins. Silver toeplate of diamond pierced design, inlaid on bottom flat of buttstock and secured with three steel screws; embellished with floral terminal. The silver-bodied compass inlaid on left side of buttstock with faceted lid, secured by three silver screws, and the lid released by a catch pin device set into the top of the tang of the silver buttplate. One of the first production model Colt firearms profusely mounted in sterling silver, and among the most deluxe of Paterson Colt arms. In addition the underside of the barrel is marked "~*Patent Arms M'g. Co. Paterson, N:J.-Colt's Pt.*~", and the matching partial serial number "77" is marked on the wedge, rear of the cylinder, cylinder ring, and "177" is marked on the rear of the barrel lug. The barrel has an elevation adjustable rear sight similar to those found on other Model 1839 rifles, such as Pliny Lawton's rifle shown on page 214 of "The Paterson Colt Book" by Wilson which is noted as "one of the few in the Model 1839 series built as a rifle." The compass inscription is difficult to read and appears to say: "J. R. Comer/bought/Tuesday Oct./the 9th 18[/]7". The cheekpiece inlay also has a very faint inscription that appears to include "Tuesday" at the top center, "Oct" to the right, and "18[?]7" on the right. The digit before the "7" is difficult to see on both inscriptions and appears to perhaps be a "7" on the cheekpiece. J. R. Comer's identity is not recorded, but it would appear he was seeking a powerful rifle to accompany him into the wilds and must have been a man of some means. Samuel Colt received his patent on February 25, 1836, and is believed to have started producing the Model 1839 series circa 1838-1841. John Ehlers completed more between 1841 and 1845. Provenance: The Richard Ellis Collection; The Charles Marx Collection