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RARE COLT 3RD MODEL 1851 NAVY-ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER CONTRACT OVERRUN.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
RARE COLT 3RD MODEL 1851 NAVY-ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER CONTRACT OVERRUN.
SN 70222. Cal. 36. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2" octagon bbl, brass pin front sight & 1-line New York City address. Left side of frame has tiny "COLTS PATENT" over a tiny "U.S". The small guard brass trigger guard and back strap contain a 1-pc walnut grip with last four digits of SN in back strap channel. Cylinder is usual 6-shots with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. All 6 safety pins are crisp and serviceable. Most of the visible parts have small inspector initials, including grip, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder & bbl. Grip however does not have the inspector or sub-inspector cartouches. According to '51 Colt Navies, Swayze there are several Navy-Army revolvers known without the cartouches. The '51 Navy was one of the most popular side arms during the Civil War, on both sides. Beginning in 1850 Colt produced 215,348 of these fine revolvers through 1873. Immediately upon their introduction, this model was readily accepted by the buying public and served with great distinction on the American frontier, throughout the Civil War and afterward again on the frontier, usually under continued harsh circumstances with limited or no maintenance. They are rarely found today with any orig finish, especially martial examples. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, all matching. Overall retains virtually all of it's orig factory finish with strong military blue and brilliant case colors, appears to be new and unfired. Bbl shows light muzzle end wear with a few scattered spots of light surface rust. Cylinder retains about all of it's orig blue turning a little plum on the rear shoulder and retains about all of it's orig blue in the chambers with crisp Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking and a couple small spots of rust. Trigger guard and back strap are a medium mustard patina, never having been silver-plated. Grip is crisp with very lightly worn edges and retains about all of it's orig oil finish. Screws & trigger retain most of their orig fire blue. Mechanics are crisp. Brilliant shiny unfired bore. This is probably one of the finest, highest condition Navy-Army revolvers extant. 7-70290 JR220