FINE CASED COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

FINE CASED COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 30771. Cal. 36. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line “COL: COLT. LONDON.” address with spear brackets. Left side of frame has a small “COLTS PATENT” and the large guard blued steel trigger guard & back strap contain a nicely figured 1-pc walnut grip with obscured numbers in back strap channel. Cylinder is usual 6-shots with Ormsby Naval battle scene and five of six safety pins serviceable. Screw heads are the domed English style and left side of bbl & cyl have British proofs. Accompanied by a scarce, orig mahogany English casing with small brass medallion in lid. Interior is purple velvet lined with “DIRECTIONS FOR LOADING COLT’S PISTOLS” label inside lid. Compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a fine Dixon bag shape flask, a blued steel “COLTS PATENT” 2-cavity mold with sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench/screwdriver, a tin for National Arms & Ammunition caps containing lead balls and the right rear compartment contains an all metal cleaning rod. Center compartment contains a functioning case key. Right rear compartment cover is missing. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Sutherland & Wilson, only about 42,000 of these London made ’51 Navys were produced in the period 1853-1856, when the London plant was closed. Of those few revolvers, approx. 23,500 were purchased by the British government for issue to various military units & agencies of both the Navy & Army. Untold numbers of the remaining 18,500 revolvers were private purchased by officers in military service. Given the extraordinary circumstances of continuous service in inhospitable climates and conditions with nominal maintenance, few of these London Navys survive today with much orig finish. PROVENANCE: Ex. William Guthman Collection, Charles Radcliffe Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including wedge, grip numbers as noted above. Bbl retains 75-80% glossy orig blue with the loss areas flaked, not worn, to a light patina. Rammer & handle retain most of their orig case colors, strong & bright on pivot. Frame retains moderately faded case colors turning silver on recoil shields. Hammer retains strong but lightly faded case colors on sides turned silver on top & back edges. Cylinder is flaked to a gray patina with scattered spots of orig blue and retains 97-98% Ormsby Naval battle scene with five of six safety pins serviceable. Trigger guard & back strap retain traces of orig blue being mostly a gray metal patina with some fine pitting on back strap. Grip has a tiny repaired chip in right toe with light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig factory varnish with slight edge wear and some minor losses on left side at frame. Trigger return spring is a little weak, otherwise mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Case has a slightly shrunken lid & bottom with light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig factory varnish. Interior is lightly faded and moderately soiled with damage from the front sight. Flask is fine and retains about 85% orig finish. Mold is very fine and retains about 75% orig blue. Cap tin, screwdriver & cleaning rod are fine. 4-39637 JR253 (6,000-10,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	2194	$5,750.00	FINE CASED COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 30771. Cal. 36. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line “COL: COLT. LONDON.” address with spear brackets. Left side of frame has a small “COLTS PATENT” and the large guard blued steel trigger guard & back strap contain a nicely figured 1-pc walnut grip with obscured numbers in back strap channel. Cylinder is usual 6-shots with Ormsby Naval battle scene and five of six safety pins serviceable. Screw heads are the domed English style and left side of bbl & cyl have British proofs. Accompanied by a scarce, orig mahogany English casing with small brass medallion in lid. Interior is purple velvet lined with “DIRECTIONS FOR LOADING COLT’S PISTOLS” label inside lid. Compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a fine Dixon bag shape flask, a blued steel “COLTS PATENT” 2-cavity mold with sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench/screwdriver, a tin for National Arms & Ammunition caps containing lead balls and the right rear compartment contains an all metal cleaning rod. Center compartment contains a functioning case key. Right rear compartment cover is missing. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Sutherland & Wilson, only about 42,000 of these London made ’51 Navys were produced in the period 1853-1856, when the London plant was closed. Of those few revolvers, approx. 23,500 were purchased by the British government for issue to various military units & agencies of both the Navy & Army. Untold numbers of the remaining 18,500 revolvers were private purchased by officers in military service. Given the extraordinary circumstances of continuous service in inhospitable climates and conditions with nominal maintenance, few of these London Navys survive today with much orig finish. PROVENANCE: Ex. William Guthman Collection, Charles Radcliffe Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including wedge, grip numbers as noted above. Bbl retains 75-80% glossy orig blue with the loss areas flaked, not worn, to a light patina. Rammer & handle retain most of their orig case colors, strong & bright on pivot. Frame retains moderately faded case colors turning silver on recoil shields. Hammer retains strong but lightly faded case colors on sides turned silver on top & back edges. Cylinder is flaked to a gray patina with scattered spots of orig blue and retains 97-98% Ormsby Naval battle scene with five of six safety pins serviceable. Trigger guard & back strap retain traces of orig blue being mostly a gray metal patina with some fine pitting on back strap. Grip has a tiny repaired chip in right toe with light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig factory varnish with slight edge wear and some minor losses on left side at frame. Trigger return spring is a little weak, otherwise mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Case has a slightly shrunken lid & bottom with light handling & storage nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig factory varnish. Interior is lightly faded and moderately soiled with damage from the front sight. Flask is fine and retains about 85% orig finish. Mold is very fine and retains about 75% orig blue. Cap tin, screwdriver & cleaning rod are fine. 4-39637 JR253 (6,000-10,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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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