CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1861 NAVY CONVERSION REVOLVER.

SN 59042. Cal. 38 CF. Nickel & gold finish with 7-1/2″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates which is apparently rolled over the orig “COLTS PATENT” and partially obscures “U.S”. This is apparently one of the 1,000 revolvers returned by the U.S. Navy for conversion and was later engraved. The steel trigger guard & back strap contain an early style, full checkered, 1-pc ivory grip. Grip is constructed in the orig manner with two slabs of ivory attached to two ivory spacer blocks creating a 1-pc grip. SNs on bbl lug, frame & trigger guard are accompanied by a small “E” which indicates it was to receive extra polish for engraving. Revolver is beautifully engraved in New York style from the L.D. Nimschke shop with about full coverage on the frame, loading gate & conversion ring, consisting of well-executed foliate arabesque patterns with fine pearled background. Matching patterns extend over most of the bbl and around the muzzle. Ejector housing is engraved in a spiral pattern. Hammer is engraved with a wolf’s head on each side of the nose, foliate arabesque patterns on the shank and fish scale patterns on the top edge and sides of the spur. The spur tip has been hand checkered. Top of the back strap is engraved in a spider web panel with “V” center. It has geometric patterns at the heel with foliate arabesque patterns on the butt strap & trigger bow. Cylinder is an orig percussion cylinder that had the rear shoulder machined away to expose the chambers leaving only the star wheel extended. It has the orig SN “89491” with the secondary number “9042” below which matches the last four numbers of the SN of this revolver. Loading gate & cyl spindle are also matching numbered. Wedge is a replacement with numbers stamped upside down. It is apparent that this revolver was engraved, probably at the time of conversion or shortly thereafter, and had the ejector housing, cyl, hammer & trigger re-gilded likely at the same time. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, there were only about 2,200 of these revolvers converted, of which 1,000 were for the U.S. Navy during the period 1873-1876. Accompanied by an orig burgundy velvet lined mahogany Colt casing compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, an L-shaped screwdriver and a lacquered tin of UMC #2 primers. Front of the case has a mahogany cartridge block with holes for seventy five 38 caliber cartridges which contains 43 tin plated military cartridges. PROVENANCE: Michael Leff Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine, all matching including replacement, renumbered wedge, grip is unnumbered. Bbl retains traces of orig nickel in sheltered areas being mostly a cleaned metal patina; frame is matching patina and both bbl & frame have scattered fine pitting; ejector housing retains 60-70% gilding, thin on outer radius; cyl retains about 80% gilding and shows about 50% thin Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking; trigger & hammer retain strong gilding; trigger guard & back strap are mostly gray metal patina with traces of nickel. Grip has a few age lines and is sound showing a fine mellow ivory patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a couple of spots of pitting. Case is sound with light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish; interior is lightly faded & moderately soiled, relined at the time of conversion. 4-49652 (30,000-60,000) – Lot 2159

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2159	$0.00	CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1861 NAVY CONVERSION REVOLVER. SN 59042. Cal. 38 CF. Nickel & gold finish with 7-1/2″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates which is apparently rolled over the orig “COLTS PATENT” and partially obscures “U.S”. This is apparently one of the 1,000 revolvers returned by the U.S. Navy for conversion and was later engraved. The steel trigger guard & back strap contain an early style, full checkered, 1-pc ivory grip. Grip is constructed in the orig manner with two slabs of ivory attached to two ivory spacer blocks creating a 1-pc grip. SNs on bbl lug, frame & trigger guard are accompanied by a small “E” which indicates it was to receive extra polish for engraving. Revolver is beautifully engraved in New York style from the L.D. Nimschke shop with about full coverage on the frame, loading gate & conversion ring, consisting of well-executed foliate arabesque patterns with fine pearled background. Matching patterns extend over most of the bbl and around the muzzle. Ejector housing is engraved in a spiral pattern. Hammer is engraved with a wolf’s head on each side of the nose, foliate arabesque patterns on the shank and fish scale patterns on the top edge and sides of the spur. The spur tip has been hand checkered. Top of the back strap is engraved in a spider web panel with “V” center. It has geometric patterns at the heel with foliate arabesque patterns on the butt strap & trigger bow. Cylinder is an orig percussion cylinder that had the rear shoulder machined away to expose the chambers leaving only the star wheel extended. It has the orig SN “89491” with the secondary number “9042” below which matches the last four numbers of the SN of this revolver. Loading gate & cyl spindle are also matching numbered. Wedge is a replacement with numbers stamped upside down. It is apparent that this revolver was engraved, probably at the time of conversion or shortly thereafter, and had the ejector housing, cyl, hammer & trigger re-gilded likely at the same time. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, there were only about 2,200 of these revolvers converted, of which 1,000 were for the U.S. Navy during the period 1873-1876. Accompanied by an orig burgundy velvet lined mahogany Colt casing compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, an L-shaped screwdriver and a lacquered tin of UMC #2 primers. Front of the case has a mahogany cartridge block with holes for seventy five 38 caliber cartridges which contains 43 tin plated military cartridges. PROVENANCE: Michael Leff Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine, all matching including replacement, renumbered wedge, grip is unnumbered. Bbl retains traces of orig nickel in sheltered areas being mostly a cleaned metal patina; frame is matching patina and both bbl & frame have scattered fine pitting; ejector housing retains 60-70% gilding, thin on outer radius; cyl retains about 80% gilding and shows about 50% thin Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking; trigger & hammer retain strong gilding; trigger guard & back strap are mostly gray metal patina with traces of nickel. Grip has a few age lines and is sound showing a fine mellow ivory patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a couple of spots of pitting. Case is sound with light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish; interior is lightly faded & moderately soiled, relined at the time of conversion. 4-49652 (30,000-60,000) – Lot 2159 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1861 NAVY CONVERSION REVOLVER.