1077

Fine Colt London Model 1851 Navy Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:4,500.00 - 6,500.00 USD
Fine Colt London Model 1851 Navy Revolver
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Estimate: $4500 - 6500
Manufacturer: Colt Model: 1851
This Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver was manufactured in the Colt London factory in 1855. The revolver has the distinctive London Navy steel back strap and large oval, steel, trigger guard, bordered knurling on the hammer spur and round screw heads. The barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap are blue. The loading lever, frame and hammer have a casehardened finish. The one-piece walnut grip has a high polish varnished piano finish. The top of the barrel is roll-engraved "-ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON-" with arrows at either end of the marking. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene, "COLT'S PATENT No.", "Engraved by W.L. Ormsby New York" and "ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843". "COLTS/PATENT" is roll-stamped on the left side of the frame in two lines. London "crown/P" and "crown/CP" proof and inspection marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel lug ahead of the wedge slot and on each cylinder chamber. The full serial number, "27965" is stamped on the bottom of the loading lever, barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, back strap and on the side of the cylinder. The original serial number on the lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap apparently was "23965"; "7" is stamped over "3" in those locations. The serial numbers on the cylinder and loading lever does not have the over-stamp. All of the visible serial numbers match. Colt manufactured 42,000 London Model 1851 Navy revolvers; approximately 18,500 were civilian revolvers like this example.
BBL: 7 1/2 inch octagon
Stock:
Gauge: 36 percussion
Finish: blue/case-hardened
Grips: varnished walnut
Serial Number: 27965
Condition:
Very fine. The revolver retains 60% of the original blue and casehardened finish. Most of the high polish is present on the barrel with some minor flaking and handling marks. The cylinder has a silver-gray patina and retains 95% or more of the naval battle scene. The iron backmstrap and trigger guard have a smooth silver-gray patina. The loading lever, frame and hammer retain more than 90% of the casehardened finish with strong case colors. All of the cylinder pins are intact and the percussion nipples show only limited flash pitting. The barrel and frame markings, naval scene, London proofmarks and serial numbers are crisp. The grip is very fine-excellent and retains more than 90% of the high polish piano finish, wear is limited to some minor handling marks and some finish loss on the edges of the grip heels. The action functions perfectly. This is a fine example of a Colt London Model Navy revolver.