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RARE EARLY 4TH MODEL SHORT BARRELED COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
RARE EARLY 4TH MODEL SHORT BARRELED COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
SN 87225. Cal. 36. Rare Navy with 6-1/2" oct bbl, brass pin front sight, and 1-line Hartford address with dashes. Left side of frame is marked with small Colt's patent and the large guard silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip with last 4 digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Cyl is usual 6 shots with Ormsby Naval Battle Scene and all 6 safety pins prominent and serviceable. SN on the rammer handle is of a smaller font than all the other numbers on the revolver and is parallel to the axis of the rammer handle. This disparity in font size has been noted on other Navy revolvers. Few of these shorter than normal Navys have ever been encountered and they are frequently referred to as "experimental". It is known however that Colt offered extra length bbls at $1 per inch over 7-1/2" and a few are known to have been ordered with shorter than standard bbls. PROVENANCE: Dr. John M. Pickup Collection. CONDITION: Fine, all matching, including wedge, cyl and grip. Bbl retains 60-70% orig blue with most of the losses from flaking, not wear, having only sharp edge wear. Rammer handle retains bright case colors on pivot with handle and rammer turned silver. Frame retains 50-60% fading case colors with recoil shield turned silver. Hammer retains dark case colors. Cyl is a gray metal patina and shows about 75% Ormsby naval battle scene. Trigger guard and backstrap retain silver in sheltered areas with balance a light mustard patina. Grip has chipped left toe and shows edge wear with light nicks and scratches and retains about 70% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with scattered pitting. 4-46416 JR89