EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PROTOTYPE OR EXPERIMENTAL COLT 1ST MODEL 1851 NAVY CONVERSION REVOLVER- A TRUE ONE OF A KIND ’51 NAVY!.

SN 7.. Cal. 38 CF. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and early New York City address with dashes. Left side of frame has small “COLT’S PATENT”. The silver plated, square back, brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a a varnished 1-piece walnut grip with matching number in buttstrap channel. Cyl is usual 6 chambers with Ormsby Naval battle roll marking and has been converted in the Richards type conversion wherein the rear shoulder of the cyl was machined away to expose the chambers, leaving about a 5/16″ long star wheel extension. The conversion ring is also Richards type with loading gate. Wedge is first type also, mounted upside down, with retaining screw on the bottom, and fits in a groove on top of the cyl spindle. The bbl of this revolver was apparently created especially for this conversion with a very unusual set of plugs in the rammer and rammer pivot slots. Further evidence that is was a specially created bbl is that there was never a dovetail for the rammer handle latch stud. Left side of the front strap is stamped with the number “47”. This number was not observed anywhere else on the revolver. Some of the screws are round head English type. Revolver is engraved in early scroll style with about 75% coverage, very well executed foliate arabesque patterns without background shading or pearling. Conversion ring, loading gate and hammer are not engraved. Matching foliate arabesque patterns extend nearly full length over the bbl lug and side flats of bbl with matching patterns on the top and top side flats. Muzzle is engraved in a scallop pattern with a double chip pattern around the bbl lug. Backstrap, buttstrap and trigger guard are engraved to match. Trigger bow is also engraved with a small elliptical shield shape observed on other early engraved Colts. This revolver is pictured on pg 112 of The WM M. Locke Collection, Sellers. Mr. Leff’s note also gives provenance to the Harry Thomas Collection. Undoubtedly this is a one of a kind prototype for the later factory conversions of the ’51 Navy and others that followed. An exceptional and exceedingly rare gun that is an important piece of Colt History. PROVENANCE: William Locke Collection; Michael Leff Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except wedge which is unnumbered; bbl retains 75-80% glossy orig blue with losses on both sides of the muzzle, probably from long term holster storage; frame retains 75-80% orig case colors, strong in sheltered areas mostly fading elsewhere, worn to metal patina on left edge of conversion plate and loading gate; hammer retains about 70% faded case colors; cyl retains about 50-60% thin orig blue with 2 areas, opposite each other, that are metal patina apparently caused by long term holster storage; cyl shows about 50% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking; trigger guard and backstrap retain about 98-99% strong orig silver plate; grip shows heavy wear on the sides with a few light nicks and scratches and retains 50-60% orig varnish; mechanics are fine; bright shiny bore with scattered light pitting. 4-49709 (75,000-200,000) – Lot 2150

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
	2150	$0.00	EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PROTOTYPE OR EXPERIMENTAL COLT 1ST MODEL 1851 NAVY CONVERSION REVOLVER- A TRUE ONE OF A KIND ’51 NAVY!. SN 7.. Cal. 38 CF. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and early New York City address with dashes. Left side of frame has small “COLT’S PATENT”. The silver plated, square back, brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a a varnished 1-piece walnut grip with matching number in buttstrap channel. Cyl is usual 6 chambers with Ormsby Naval battle roll marking and has been converted in the Richards type conversion wherein the rear shoulder of the cyl was machined away to expose the chambers, leaving about a 5/16″ long star wheel extension. The conversion ring is also Richards type with loading gate. Wedge is first type also, mounted upside down, with retaining screw on the bottom, and fits in a groove on top of the cyl spindle. The bbl of this revolver was apparently created especially for this conversion with a very unusual set of plugs in the rammer and rammer pivot slots. Further evidence that is was a specially created bbl is that there was never a dovetail for the rammer handle latch stud. Left side of the front strap is stamped with the number “47”. This number was not observed anywhere else on the revolver. Some of the screws are round head English type. Revolver is engraved in early scroll style with about 75% coverage, very well executed foliate arabesque patterns without background shading or pearling. Conversion ring, loading gate and hammer are not engraved. Matching foliate arabesque patterns extend nearly full length over the bbl lug and side flats of bbl with matching patterns on the top and top side flats. Muzzle is engraved in a scallop pattern with a double chip pattern around the bbl lug. Backstrap, buttstrap and trigger guard are engraved to match. Trigger bow is also engraved with a small elliptical shield shape observed on other early engraved Colts. This revolver is pictured on pg 112 of The WM M. Locke Collection, Sellers. Mr. Leff’s note also gives provenance to the Harry Thomas Collection. Undoubtedly this is a one of a kind prototype for the later factory conversions of the ’51 Navy and others that followed. An exceptional and exceedingly rare gun that is an important piece of Colt History. PROVENANCE: William Locke Collection; Michael Leff Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except wedge which is unnumbered; bbl retains 75-80% glossy orig blue with losses on both sides of the muzzle, probably from long term holster storage; frame retains 75-80% orig case colors, strong in sheltered areas mostly fading elsewhere, worn to metal patina on left edge of conversion plate and loading gate; hammer retains about 70% faded case colors; cyl retains about 50-60% thin orig blue with 2 areas, opposite each other, that are metal patina apparently caused by long term holster storage; cyl shows about 50% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking; trigger guard and backstrap retain about 98-99% strong orig silver plate; grip shows heavy wear on the sides with a few light nicks and scratches and retains 50-60% orig varnish; mechanics are fine; bright shiny bore with scattered light pitting. 4-49709 (75,000-200,000) – Lot 2150 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PROTOTYPE OR EXPERIMENTAL COLT 1ST MODEL 1851 NAVY CONVERSION REVOLVER- A TRUE ONE OF A KIND ’51 NAVY!.