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EXTREMELY RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER WITH MATCHING NUMBERED

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:14,500.00 USD Estimated At:29,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
EXTREMELY RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER WITH MATCHING NUMBERED
SN 94441. Cal. .36. Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2" oct bbl, rare dovetailed blade front sight & 1-line "ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON" with dashes. Left side of frame is engraved "COLTS PATENT". Frame is 4-screw type with extended stock screws. Silver-plated 4th model brass trigger guard & iron backstrap contain a 1-pc deluxe burl walnut grip with matching SN in backstrap channel. Cylinder is usual 6 shots with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. Cylinder SN appears to have been stamped over another number which had been mostly removed. Font of cylinder SN has matching characteristics to other numbers on revolver indicating that it was probably done at factory. Cylinder has standard English proofs while bbl does not appear to have been English proofed. Revolver is beautifully deluxe engraved by Gustave Young in his fine foliate arabesque patterns with pearled background. Hammer nose is engraved with wolf's head on each side. Matching engraving patterns extend up both sides of bbl lug & top side flats with scrolls terminating in flower blossoms & 1 scroll terminating in Mr. Young's stylized bird's head. Rammer pivot is engraved to match. Backstrap, buttstrap & trigger guard are engraved to match with Mr. Young's typical fan pattern at top. Screw heads are domed English style. Accompanied by matching numbered orig shoulder stock with deluxe burl walnut & silver-plated yoke & buttplate. Both yoke & buttplate are matching, numbered and engraved to match revolver. Accompanied by an orig red velvet-lined, English oak casing with brass bulls-eye handle in top engraved "FRANCIS BENNOCH, ESQ. RE". Interior is compartmented for revolver & buttstock along with Dixson bag flask, 2-cavity blued steel Colt's patent bullet mold, L-shaped nipple wrench & orig all metal cleaning rod, packet of 6 Syms combustible cartridges & lacquered tin of Ely's caps with partial paper wrapping. Engraved Navy revolvers are somewhat rare in their own right. Cased examples are still more rare and those with deluxe matching numbered shoulder stocks are most rare. The U.S. Historical Society thanked Michael for loaning this engraved shoulder stock as the model for the engraving on the commemorative issue of the Jefferson Davis Revolver. PROVENANCE: Michael Leff Estate Collection. CONDITION: About fine, all matching including wedge & grip, cylinder as noted above. Bbl retains about 50% thinning orig blue with fine pinprick pitting. Rammer pivot retains dark case colors. Frame retains traces of dark case colors as does hammer. Cylinder retains about 30% thin orig blue & shows about 95% Ormsby Naval battle scene rolled marking. Trigger guard & backstrap retain virtually all of their orig silver-plating. Grip has a chipped right toe & scrape on right side from stock and overall retains strong orig oiled finish. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore with a couple small spots of pitting. Shoulder stock retains about 95% bright orig varnish with light nicks & scratches. Buttplate and yoke retain most of their orig silver-plating. Case is sound with very light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains virtually all of its orig finish. Interior is lightly faded with light soil around revolver. Flask has couple of dents & retains most of its orig finish. Mold is nicked & dinged with scattered light pitting. Other accessories are fine. 4-49624