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Excellent and Rare Cased Early Production Colt London Model 1851 Navy Revolver with Accessories

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:8,000.00 USD Estimated At:16,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
Excellent and Rare Cased Early Production Colt London Model 1851 Navy Revolver with Accessories
Colt manufactured 42,000 of these London revolvers between 1853 and 1857. These revolvers were in their own serial number range of 1 to 42,000. This particular revolver is an early first year production, 1853, First Model with a round brass trigger guard and backstrap. The first approximately 500 1851 Navies were partially built in Hartford and later completed in the new London factory. The serial number would indicate that this revolver would have been one of those first 500. The top barrel flat is marked "---ADDRESS. COL: COLT. LONDON.---" and the left side of the frame is marked "COLTS / PATENT". British "crown/ V" and "crown G/P" proofs are stamped on the left side of the barrel just ahead of the wedge and on the cylinder alternating between each nipple. The cylinder is roll engraved with the naval scene and "COLTS PATENT No 181". The matching serial number is stamped on the loading lever, barrel, frame, trigger guard and backstrap. The wedge is in very tight and writer did not want to force it out to check the number on it. The barrel and cylinder are finished blue, the frame, loading lever and hammer casehardened and the trigger guard and backstrap are silver plated. Equipped with brass cone front and hammer notch rear sights and fitted with smooth one piece varnished walnut grips. Complete in an English oak case with an inlaid brass plaque on the lid and green velvet lining and paper directions label affixed to the inside of the lid. The case is divided into six compartments. The accessories are: 1) a cleaning rod with wooden handle, 2) a brass two chamber bullet mold marked "COLT'S / PATENT" on the iron sprue cutter, 3) "L" shaped nipple wrench/screwdriver, 4) nickel oiler, 5) large Eley Bros. cap tin (empty) and 6) bag shaped flask marked "COLT'S NAVY FLASK / JAMES DIXON / & SONS / SHEFFIELD" on the top. The flask has a brown lacquer finished body with a small lanyard ring at the bottom.
BBL: 7-1/2 inch octagon
Stock:
Gauge: 36 cal
Finish: blue/casehardened/silver
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 181
Condition: Excellent. The barrel retains approximately 98% of the original finish with scattered minor flaking and high edge wear. The cylinder has a smooth blue/brown patina with some original finish in protected areas, clear scene and crisp proofmarks. The loading lever, frame and hammer retain approximately 75% of the overall "soft" original case colors. The lever has mostly faded to a smooth gray. The trigger guard and backstrap retain approximately 85% of the original silver with most of the loss on the backstrap where the exposed areas have an aged natural patina. The grips are near excellent with almost all of the varnish remaining, some lower edge wear and a few overall scattered minor dings and dents. The case is very fine with minor handling marks and a couple of minor cracks. The lining is good with some minor wear and the label inside the lid is intact. The accessories are all excellent. Almost all of the original niter blue remains on the spout spring and almost all of the original lacquer remains on the brass. An excellent cased low serial number London Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver with accessories.