RARE NEW SOUTH WALES NAVAL BRIGADE MARKED COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

RARE NEW SOUTH WALES NAVAL BRIGADE MARKED COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 167425. Cal. 36. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, blued steel squared post front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has a small “COLTS PATENT” and left shoulder of trigger guard the caliber marking. Cyl is usual 6-shots with Ormsby Naval Battle scene. Bbl lug & cyl have British proofs. The silver plated large guard brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip that has an illegible number in backstrap channel. Grip fits near perfect so there is little doubt that this is the orig grip. Backstrap is engraved in block letters “NAVAL BRIGADE N.S.W. / NO 43”. According to ’51 Colt Navies, Swayze, at the time of writing this book in 1967 there was only one other Colt Navy so marked. The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, also shows that the New South Wales Naval Brigade purchased Colt ’51 Navies but has no additional information. Undoubtedly revolvers so marked should be considered very rare. The New South Wales Naval Brigade was formed in 1854 for the defense of Sydney with the outbreak of the Crimean War. Initially they had no ships and didn’t get one until 1855. In 1863 they had 120 men assigned and in 1864 it consisted of five companies with an overall strength of 200 men. Their only ship was sold in 1859 and they had no ships until the late 1870s when the government built two torpedo boats and another was acquired in 1882. The Naval Brigade continued to add members reaching a total strength of 614 men when they were federalized for the Boxer Rebellion. 300 men of the Brigade were sent to China but arrived mostly after the action was over. PROVENANCE: Dr. John & Margaret Pickup Collection. CONDITION: Very good to fine, all matching except rammer handle which is unnumbered and probably a period of use replacement; bbl retains about 75% orig blue with scattered spots of moderate pitting; rammer retains smoky case colors on the pivot; frame is a cleaned metal patina with scattered pitting; hammer retains dark case colors; cyl is a gray/brown patina with scattered fine pitting and overall retains about 60% Naval battle scene; exposed areas of trigger guard & backstrap are a medium to dark mustard patina. Grip has a chipped left toe and shows moderate edge wear with light nicks & scratches and overall retains 65-70% dark orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with scattered pitting. 4-46409 (12,000-18,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

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
	1469	$0.00	RARE NEW SOUTH WALES NAVAL BRIGADE MARKED COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 167425. Cal. 36. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, blued steel squared post front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has a small “COLTS PATENT” and left shoulder of trigger guard the caliber marking. Cyl is usual 6-shots with Ormsby Naval Battle scene. Bbl lug & cyl have British proofs. The silver plated large guard brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip that has an illegible number in backstrap channel. Grip fits near perfect so there is little doubt that this is the orig grip. Backstrap is engraved in block letters “NAVAL BRIGADE N.S.W. / NO 43”. According to ’51 Colt Navies, Swayze, at the time of writing this book in 1967 there was only one other Colt Navy so marked. The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, also shows that the New South Wales Naval Brigade purchased Colt ’51 Navies but has no additional information. Undoubtedly revolvers so marked should be considered very rare. The New South Wales Naval Brigade was formed in 1854 for the defense of Sydney with the outbreak of the Crimean War. Initially they had no ships and didn’t get one until 1855. In 1863 they had 120 men assigned and in 1864 it consisted of five companies with an overall strength of 200 men. Their only ship was sold in 1859 and they had no ships until the late 1870s when the government built two torpedo boats and another was acquired in 1882. The Naval Brigade continued to add members reaching a total strength of 614 men when they were federalized for the Boxer Rebellion. 300 men of the Brigade were sent to China but arrived mostly after the action was over. PROVENANCE: Dr. John & Margaret Pickup Collection. CONDITION: Very good to fine, all matching except rammer handle which is unnumbered and probably a period of use replacement; bbl retains about 75% orig blue with scattered spots of moderate pitting; rammer retains smoky case colors on the pivot; frame is a cleaned metal patina with scattered pitting; hammer retains dark case colors; cyl is a gray/brown patina with scattered fine pitting and overall retains about 60% Naval battle scene; exposed areas of trigger guard & backstrap are a medium to dark mustard patina. Grip has a chipped left toe and shows moderate edge wear with light nicks & scratches and overall retains 65-70% dark orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with scattered pitting. 4-46409 (12,000-18,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 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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