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CASED INSCRIBED & ENGRAVED VERY EARLY COLT MODEL 1851 REVOLVER

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:22,500.00 - 32,500.00 USD
CASED INSCRIBED & ENGRAVED VERY EARLY COLT MODEL 1851 REVOLVER
CASED INSCRIBED & ENGRAVED VERY EARLY COLT MODEL 1851 REVOLVER. Cal. 36 Perc. First type revolver with 7-1/2” oct bbl that has the wedge over the screw. It has small square-back brass trigger guard and backstrap with 1-pc walnut grips. Engraved in the early-style foliate arabesque patterns, it is identified on pg. 40 in Vol. 1 of the Colt Engraving book by R.L. Wilson and is one of the earliest engraved ’51 Navy’s known. It has an inscription on the left bbl flat near the muzzle “John Smiley Watson” that does not appear to have been done by the same hand that did the engraving. Accompanied by an original Colt walnut, compartmented casing that contains the revolver, an unopened package of skin cartridges, and “L” shaped nipple wrench/screwdriver and a tin of early Eley caps. The case is lined with brown velvet. SN 687. CONDITION: Good to very good, all matching except the wedge, which is an old replacement. The metal retains an overall smooth, very dark brown patina. The grip frame and trigger guard retain 40-50% original silver plating with the balance a dark mustard patina. Grips are sound and retain most of an old refinish. The cylinder retains 60-70% Naval battle scene. The bore is dark and pitted. The case is very fine with the exterior retaining most of its original finish with numerous small nicks and dings on the lid. The interior is moderately faded with front sight and hammer spur damage, bbl support block is loose and the front is missing the lock escutcheon. The skin cartridges are sealed, but have light damage in the lower left corner and is missing small portion of the label and has tape on the opposite end. The cap tin is fine. 4-49493