Project Description
This is a 1/2 scale Colt 1856 revolving sporting rifle made by master miniature firearms maker George Wenzek, of Washington State, in 1985. 23 5/8″ long overall with a 13 5/8″ part octagon part round barrel of .180 caliber. Machined steel construction with a blue finish except for the stock nose cap. The muzzle end of the cleaning rod is serrated, the other end is threaded & screws into the frame for security. Two piece straight grained walnut stocks. Dovetailed front sight with a dovetailed windage adjustable three leaf folding rear sight. The hammer with both half & full cock & the hammer spur is checkered. The buttplate has a sliding trap door & holds a brass cleaning rod tip with a slot for cleaning patches. Front & rear sling swivels. The bottom tang marked “Wenzek”. The bottom of the frame just forward of the triggerguard marked with the serial number “4”. Fully mechanically functional & would probably fire given the proper percussion caps, powder, & projectile. Complete with the beautiful original Wenzek burl walnut hinged top casing with two slide latches. The right side of the case top inlaid with a large brass escutcheon with a hand engraved Colt rampant colt horse logo. The case interior bottom French fit & lined in a fold felt. The right front corner with an attached brass plaque reading “HALF SCALE, MODEL 1856 COLT, REVOLVING SPORTING RIFLE, By George Wenzek 1985”. The interior lid lined in a darker gold/brown felt. Excellent near mint condition both mechanically & cosmetically. This is the first one of these I have ever had the pleasure to offer for sale in over well over 10 years years! Mr. Wenzek only made five of these. Beautiful workmanship by an expert craftsman! This Colt side hammer revolver action is extremely difficult to make, even in full size!!! These Colt revolving rifles were used in the Civil War, most notably by the Union’s “Berdan’s Sharpshooters”, before they were eventually replaced by Sharps single shot rifles. Stock # CK-283. Price: $8,500.00.
