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Civil War Factory Panel Scene Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver with Relief-Carved Patriotic Iv

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 45,000.00 USD
Civil War Factory Panel Scene Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver with Relief-Carved Patriotic Iv
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Estimate: $30000 - 45000
This extraordinary Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver was manufactured in 1863. This revolver has the Fourth Model large rounded trigger guard and recoil shield capping cut-out with no capping channel. The revolver is factory engraved with the what Colt engraving expert R.L. Wilson describes as: "Late Percussion Vine Scrollwork". The engraving features more open scrollwork then previous engraving styles and does not have the punch-dot background favored by Gustave Young. However, R.L. Wilson notes that Gustave Young employed "Late Percussion Vine Scroll" engraving on occasion and this revolver features an eagle's head concealed in the scrollwork on the left side of the lug (semi-concealed animal heads were a Gustave Young signature) as well as Young's wolf head motif on either side of the hammer. Both sides of the barrel lug are engraved with the rarely encountered patriotic slogan "UNITED/WE/STAND" on a scroll background with engraved flourishes. The revolver has a one-piece carved ivory grip. The left side of the grip has a relief carved eagle with spread wings and olive leaves and war arrows in its talons atop a United States Shield on a sunburst background. A "P" is stamped either above or below the serial number on the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The "P" was utilized by Colt after 1861 to denote special finish, polish or engraving. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped "-ADDRESS COL. SAML NEW-YORK COLT U.S. AMERICA-" in one line in a panel with scalloped borders. "COLTS/PATENT" is stamped on the left side of the frame enclosed in an engraved banner. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene and "COLTS PATENT No." The full serial number "169624" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The cylinder is stamped with the partial serial number "9624" and the loading lever is not serial numbered. All of the other serial numbers match.
BBL: 7 1/2 inch octagon
Stock:
Gauge: 36 percussion
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips: ivory carved
Serial Number: 169624P
Condition: Good. The revolver's blue and case-hardened finish has faded to a brown patina. 25% of the bright original blue finish is visible in the protected areas of the barrel. There is some scattered and very light pitting on the barrel and loading lever. Most of the naval battle scene on the cylinder remains intact. There is moderate-heavy flash pitting on the back of the cylinder and on the percussion nipples. The cylinder safety pins are battered. The sides of the hammer show moderate-heavy flash pitting. Traces of silver-plating are present in protected areas of the brass trigger guard. The engraved scrollwork remains crisp and the revolver markings are sharp. The grips have a deep yellow age patina and there is a small chip on either side of the grip heel. The bottom of the grips have hairline age cracks. The face of the relief-carved eagle is worn smooth from handling but the balance of the relief carving remain sharp. This is an extraordinary example of a Civil War Colt factory engraved Model 1851 Navy revolver with rare "UNITED/WE/STAND/DIVIDED/WE FALL" engraving and highly detailed relief-carved patriotc ivory grip.