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RARE INSCRIBED HISTORIC 1ST PRODUCTION COLT 1861 NAVY REVOLVER

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RARE INSCRIBED HISTORIC 1ST PRODUCTION COLT 1861 NAVY REVOLVER
RARE INSCRIBED HISTORIC 1ST PRODUCTION COLT 1861 NAVY REVOLVER. Cal. 36 Perc. Rare first production Navy with 7-1/2” round bbl, 1-pc varnished walnut grips with silver-plated brass trigger guard and backstrap factory inscribed on the bottom of the butt “Lieut. L.S. Elbert”. Illustrated on pg. 173 of Colt Engraving Vol 1 by R. L. Wilson. Accompanied by a 6-page letter from R.L. Wilson describing this revolver in great detail. Accompanying this fine revolver is a beautiful left hand California “Slim Jim” holster made of soft russet brown leather with fancy tooled edges and sewn back seam without Cheyenne plug. It has a belt loop incorporated into the back which is lined with fine red Moroccan leather. Also accompanying are copies of pages from volume II of the “Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy” , pages 833 & 834. Also included are pages 837 & 838, which is the military biography of Custer. According to these records, Lt. Elbert was promoted ahead of Custer through 1st Lt. and it indicates they served in the same units for a while. Also accompanying is a reproduced photograph of Cpt. Elbert and Cpt. Custer at the end of April, 1863 showing both men wearing long frock coats with Elbert in Knee-high Cavalry boots and Custer with long pants. Lt. Leroy S. Elbert upon graduation, was assigned duty as a 2nd Lt. with the Mounted Riflemen as of June 24,1861 and was immediately promoted to 1st Lt. in the 3rd Cavalry. He remained on active duty and saw service in a variety of campaigns and battles including Manassas, Bull Run, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Hannover, Antietam, and numerous other skirmishes in the Rappahannock campaign, the Battle of Fredericksburg and participated in Stoneman’s Raid towards Richmond in 1863. He was subsequently in command of the company at Camp McRae as a Capt. near Memphis, TN. In September 11-13, 1863 he was on a sick leave of absence and died on September 13, 1863 on the Mississippi river in route to St. Louis. SN 50. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including the wedge. Bbl retains 50-60% original blue, mostly in the sheltered areas. The operating lever retains 75-80% dark case colors. The cylinder has traces of original blue, having been cleaned bright, with scattered spots of light rust. Retains about 30% original Naval battle scene. Four of the 6 safety pins are intact with the other 2 peened over. The frame retains generous amounts, about 80%, of the original case colors on the sides of the frame with the balance turning silver with scattered pinpoints of surface rust with the recoil shields retaining traces of color with light surface rust. The trigger guard and backstrap retain 40-50% original silver plating, oxidized black. the grips are sound with moderate edge wear and a few nicks and dings, retaining 85-90% bright original varnish. The bore is strong with moderate to heavy pitting. Crisp mechanics. The holster is in equally fine condition, retaining most of its fine original light finish with some minor surface crackling and a point or two of wear. This is a very historic and early ‘61 Navy in seldom encountered fine condition. It is a rare opportunity that seldom ever comes along. It is likely that this revolver was a gift to Lt. Elbert upon his graduation for West Point or possibly he purchased it immediately upon graduation, but given the inscription, it probably was a gift. 4-50072