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Gustave Young Factory Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver with Relief Carved Ivory Grip

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 27,500.00 USD
Gustave Young Factory Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver with Relief Carved Ivory Grip
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This factory engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver was manufactured during the Civil War in 1863. The revolver has the Fourth Model large rounded trigger guard and capping channel in the recoil shield. The revolver has a blued barrel and cylinder, case-hardened loading lever, frame and hammer and silver-plated brass trigger guard and back strap. The barrel as a dovetail mounted front sight with nickel-silver blade. The left side of the one-piece ivory grip is relief carved with the Mexican Eagle and Serpent motif on a shield background. The barrel, loading lever, frame, hammer, trigger guard and back strap are decorated with Germanic scroll engraving by master engraver Gustave Young. The left side of the barrel lug features Young's signature animal head surrounded by scrollwork and the sides of the hammer are engraved with stylized hound's heads. There are four dots present on top of the hammer, forward the knurling, denoting Gustave Youngs' moderate level of embellishment. An "E" stamped either above or below the serial number on the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap indicates those components were designated for engraving and special finish at the Colt factory. The panel on the back strap is inscribed: "J.F. Gillin" in script engraving. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the standard Texas Navy battle scene and "COLTS PATENT NO." The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "- ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA -" in one line in an engraved panel. "COLTS/PATENT" is stamped on the left side of the frame in a panel formed by engraved scrollwork. "2" is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard bow and "36 CAL is stamped on the left rear trigger guard bow. The full serial number, "139632" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number, "9632" is stamped on the loading lever and cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match.
BBL: 7 1/2 inch octagon
Stock:
Gauge: 36 percussion
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips: ivory carved
Serial Number: 139632E
Condition: Fine. The revolver retains 40% of the original blue (mostly on barrel), 60% vivid case colors on frame and 20% silver-plated finish on the grip straps. Significant amounts of the original blue finish are present on protected areas of the barrel and lug. The legend on the top of the barrel is crisp. The cylinder has a silver gray patina and retains most of the naval scene. The cylinder pins are battered and there is flash pitting on the percussion nipples, rear face of the cylinder and sides of the hammer. Most of the subdued color casehardened finish is present on the loading lever, frame and hammer. Traces of the silver-plated finish are present on the brass trigger guard and back strap. The screws retain about 50% of the niter blue finish. Gustave Young's flawlessly executed, highly detailed, Germanic Scroll engraving is sharp and deep. The ivory grip is in fine condition. The ivory has a mellow patina and the detail of the relief-carved Mexican Eagle is sharp. The grip has only minor shrinkage and has very minor age stress cracks present in the heel. This is a very attractive Civil War period Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver with factory Gustave Young engraving and factory, relief carved, ivory grip.