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CASED EARLY COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
CASED EARLY COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
SN 8. Cal. 36. Usual configuration with 7-1/2" bbl, brass pin front sight and London address with arrows. Left side of bbl lug & cyl have British proofs. Left side of frame has a small "COLT'S PATENT" with characteristic broken letters in the die. Cyl is usual 6-shots with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking and all six safety pins prominent & serviceable. The small guard brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN in backstrap channel. Wedge is an unnumbered replacement. There is a tiny "1" stamped on the front beveled edge of the trigger guard and again on the left front web of the trigger guard. Rammer is of the early type with the screw entering from the right. Right side of grip has the hand-carved initials "LSE". Accompanied by an orig oak English casing with brass medallion in the lid, blue velvet lined & compartmented in bottom for revolver, a Dixon "COLTS NAVY FLASK" bag shaped flask, a brass "COLTS PATENT" bullet & ball mold with sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench, a lacquered tin of Eley's caps, a pewter oil bottle and a spare hammer spring. This revolver, along with about 2,000 others, was produced in London out of Hartford parts, few of which are rarely found today with high, orig finish. According to information in the book '51 Colt Navies, Swayze, this may be the second oldest London '51 Navy known. PROVENANCE: Dr. John M. Pickup Collection. CONDITION: About fine, all matching except wedge as noted. Bbl & rammer retain a smooth plummy blue/brown patina with a few scattered tiny spots of pitting; frame & hammer retain traces of silvered case colors, being mostly a blue/gray patina; cyl is a matching gray patina and overall retains about 80-85% Ormsby Naval battle scene; trigger guard retains about 65% orig silver with balance a medium mustard patina; backstrap retains 10-15% silver with balance a medium mustard patina. Grip is sound showing moderate to heavy wear and retains 10-15% orig varnish with balance a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate pitting. Case is sound with light to moderate storage & handling nicks & scratches and retains most of a lightly restored finish. Inside lid lining is moderately faded with light staining. Bottom is moderately to heavily faded in areas with moderate to heavy soil and damage from the front sight and hammer spur. Accessories are all fine. 4-46443 JR103