WONDERFUL CASED MARTIALLY MARKED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

WONDERFUL CASED MARTIALLY MARKED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 63823. Cal. 36. Fine martially marked Gustave Young engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy with 7-1/2″ oct bbl, scarce dovetail front sight and 1-line New York City address. Left side of frame has “COLT’S PATENT” over a tiny “U.S.” It has a small siver plated brass trigger guard & back strap and there are various inspector initials on miscellaneous parts including a small “A” on left side of grip at frame. Mounted with a very highly figured, varnished, 1-pc walnut grip which has the last four digits of the serial number in ink in the back strap channel. Overall this revolver is engraved in Gustave Young’s deluxe coverage of graceful intertwined foliate arabesque patterns, several of which terminate in his distinctive flower blossoms. Left side of bbl lug incorporates his distinctive bird head into one of the scrolls. Hammer has deluxe coverage on both sides with a wolf’s head on each side of the hammer nose. Top flat of the bbl has a chip & dot border around the address with two wavy line borders at muzzle. Top of back strap has Mr. Young’s sparse fan pattern with foliate arabesque patterns at the top & heel of back strap, across butt strap, trigger bow & trigger plate. Back strap is inscribed in script “Presented to Major General / Thomas Guyer / September 22, 1858 by the Colt Guard”. All of screw heads are also engraved. Accompanied by its spectacular burgundy velvet lined rosewood casing. Top of case has a blank brass plate with interior compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a sgl sided Navy sized “COLTS PATENT” angle spout flask, a blued 2-cavity “COLT’S PATENT” bullet mold with sprue cutter, a sealed tin of Eley’s caps with most of the marbled paper intact and a sealed packet of combustible cartridges. Also accompanying is a functioning key. Maj. Gen. Thomas Guyer was born in Westport, CT in 1809 and at an early age enlisted in the Connecticut State Militia, the date is unknown but it is recorded that in 1834 he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Company headquarter in Norwalk where he resided most of his life. He worked his way up through the ranks and in 1851 was appointed Brig. General of the 2nd Brigade and in 1853 became a Major General in command of the Connecticut Militia. Although Gen. Guyer never saw service in the war with Mexico, nor in the Civil War, he apparently rendered great service to the Union cause in selecting officers to serve. For most of his adult life Gen. Guyer was employed at a door knob factory in South Norwalk and from 1872-1876 he represented Norwalk in the Connecticut House of Representatives and also served as Town Councilman & Assessor. In 1857 he was presented a wonderful Ames sword by the officers of the Connecticut Militia. In 1858 Gen. Guyer was presented this fine Colt revolver by Colt’s Guards Company B of the Connecticut State Militia as reported in the Hartford Courant, copies of which articles also accompany this revolver. Company B, Colt’s Guards was a company of militia men organized, armed & equipped by Col. Colt at the Colt Factory and was led by Capt. J. Dean Alden. One of the articles copied herein specifically mentions that “at a quarter before nine in the evening the Putnam Phalanx, to the number of about a hundred, arrived on the ground and were received by Colt’s Guards Company B. After marching about the camp for a while they were escorted to the Suttler’s tent where took place the presentation of a Colt’s revolving pistol to Maj. Gen. Guyer, from Colt’s Guards.” Also accompanying this revolver is a copy of a photograph of Maj. Gen. Guyer, a pair of his Major General’s shoulder boards with gold braid border and 7-point gold stars on a red velvet background. Back of one of the epaulets is marked “J.H. HORSTMANN COMPANY PHILADELPHIA”. Also accompanying is a sgl uniform button from Maj. Gen. Guyer’s frock coat which bears the seal of the State of Connecticut and is marked “CONNECTICUT” around the perimeter. Back of button is marked “SCOVILL MFG CO / WATERBURY”. This is a striking and wonderful presentation, pre-Civil War, to an apparently well-loved and respected commanding officer from his subordinates. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Revolver is very fine, all matching including wedge & grip. Bbl retains 75-80% glossy orig blue with a few scattered spots of surface etching. Rammer & lever retain faded case colors, strongest on pivot. Cylinder retains 30-40% faded orig blue and about 90% Ormsby Naval battle scene. Frame retains traces of orig case colors being mostly a cleaned gray patina. Hammer retains dark case colors. Trigger guard & backstrap retain virtually all of their orig silver plating. Grip is sound showing little or no wear with a few very minor surface mars. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Shows little evidence of ever having been fired, just a lot of handling. Case has a grain check in lid, otherwise is sound with minor storage & handling marks and retains about all of its brilliant orig varnish. Flask has a minor dent on back and another on front, otherwise appears unused retaining most of its orig lacquer finish with brilliant blue on spring. Mold has a few minor dings on one side and retains about 95% strong orig blue. Cap tin paper covering is mostly intact missing a couple of minor slivers with moderately faded label. Cartridge packet is extremely fine. Epaulets are extremely fine showing little wear. Button retains 85% orig gilding. 4-36437 JR84 (75,000-125,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

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
	2016	$74,750.00	WONDERFUL CASED MARTIALLY MARKED ENGRAVED PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 63823. Cal. 36. Fine martially marked Gustave Young engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy with 7-1/2″ oct bbl, scarce dovetail front sight and 1-line New York City address. Left side of frame has “COLT’S PATENT” over a tiny “U.S.” It has a small siver plated brass trigger guard & back strap and there are various inspector initials on miscellaneous parts including a small “A” on left side of grip at frame. Mounted with a very highly figured, varnished, 1-pc walnut grip which has the last four digits of the serial number in ink in the back strap channel. Overall this revolver is engraved in Gustave Young’s deluxe coverage of graceful intertwined foliate arabesque patterns, several of which terminate in his distinctive flower blossoms. Left side of bbl lug incorporates his distinctive bird head into one of the scrolls. Hammer has deluxe coverage on both sides with a wolf’s head on each side of the hammer nose. Top flat of the bbl has a chip & dot border around the address with two wavy line borders at muzzle. Top of back strap has Mr. Young’s sparse fan pattern with foliate arabesque patterns at the top & heel of back strap, across butt strap, trigger bow & trigger plate. Back strap is inscribed in script “Presented to Major General / Thomas Guyer / September 22, 1858 by the Colt Guard”. All of screw heads are also engraved. Accompanied by its spectacular burgundy velvet lined rosewood casing. Top of case has a blank brass plate with interior compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a sgl sided Navy sized “COLTS PATENT” angle spout flask, a blued 2-cavity “COLT’S PATENT” bullet mold with sprue cutter, a sealed tin of Eley’s caps with most of the marbled paper intact and a sealed packet of combustible cartridges. Also accompanying is a functioning key. Maj. Gen. Thomas Guyer was born in Westport, CT in 1809 and at an early age enlisted in the Connecticut State Militia, the date is unknown but it is recorded that in 1834 he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Company headquarter in Norwalk where he resided most of his life. He worked his way up through the ranks and in 1851 was appointed Brig. General of the 2nd Brigade and in 1853 became a Major General in command of the Connecticut Militia. Although Gen. Guyer never saw service in the war with Mexico, nor in the Civil War, he apparently rendered great service to the Union cause in selecting officers to serve. For most of his adult life Gen. Guyer was employed at a door knob factory in South Norwalk and from 1872-1876 he represented Norwalk in the Connecticut House of Representatives and also served as Town Councilman & Assessor. In 1857 he was presented a wonderful Ames sword by the officers of the Connecticut Militia. In 1858 Gen. Guyer was presented this fine Colt revolver by Colt’s Guards Company B of the Connecticut State Militia as reported in the Hartford Courant, copies of which articles also accompany this revolver. Company B, Colt’s Guards was a company of militia men organized, armed & equipped by Col. Colt at the Colt Factory and was led by Capt. J. Dean Alden. One of the articles copied herein specifically mentions that “at a quarter before nine in the evening the Putnam Phalanx, to the number of about a hundred, arrived on the ground and were received by Colt’s Guards Company B. After marching about the camp for a while they were escorted to the Suttler’s tent where took place the presentation of a Colt’s revolving pistol to Maj. Gen. Guyer, from Colt’s Guards.” Also accompanying this revolver is a copy of a photograph of Maj. Gen. Guyer, a pair of his Major General’s shoulder boards with gold braid border and 7-point gold stars on a red velvet background. Back of one of the epaulets is marked “J.H. HORSTMANN COMPANY PHILADELPHIA”. Also accompanying is a sgl uniform button from Maj. Gen. Guyer’s frock coat which bears the seal of the State of Connecticut and is marked “CONNECTICUT” around the perimeter. Back of button is marked “SCOVILL MFG CO / WATERBURY”. This is a striking and wonderful presentation, pre-Civil War, to an apparently well-loved and respected commanding officer from his subordinates. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Revolver is very fine, all matching including wedge & grip. Bbl retains 75-80% glossy orig blue with a few scattered spots of surface etching. Rammer & lever retain faded case colors, strongest on pivot. Cylinder retains 30-40% faded orig blue and about 90% Ormsby Naval battle scene. Frame retains traces of orig case colors being mostly a cleaned gray patina. Hammer retains dark case colors. Trigger guard & backstrap retain virtually all of their orig silver plating. Grip is sound showing little or no wear with a few very minor surface mars. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Shows little evidence of ever having been fired, just a lot of handling. Case has a grain check in lid, otherwise is sound with minor storage & handling marks and retains about all of its brilliant orig varnish. Flask has a minor dent on back and another on front, otherwise appears unused retaining most of its orig lacquer finish with brilliant blue on spring. Mold has a few minor dings on one side and retains about 95% strong orig blue. Cap tin paper covering is mostly intact missing a couple of minor slivers with moderately faded label. Cartridge packet is extremely fine. Epaulets are extremely fine showing little wear. Button retains 85% orig gilding. 4-36437 JR84 (75,000-125,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 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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