RARE IDENTIFIED CASED COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

RARE IDENTIFIED CASED COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 32568. Cal. .36. Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line address “ADDRESS.COL:COLT.LONDON” with spears. Left side of the frame has London style “COLTS PATENT” and the large guard, blued steel trigger guard and backstrap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with last four digits of serial number in backstrap channel. Left side of the bbl lug and cyl have tiny British proofs. Backstrap is engraved in period script perpendicular to the axis of the backstrap “F.C.Forbes / 37th Regt.” Surmounting the inscription is the Forbes family crest of Skellater and Kingerlock of Scotland. The crest consists of an arm clutching a vertical sword which is holding the head of a cow aloft. Accompanied its orig English oak casing with scalloped brass plate in the lid which is engraved identically to the backstrap of the revolver, also with the family crest. Front of the case has a mortised brass lock with round escutcheon. Interior is green baize lined with an orig Colt directions label inside the lid. It is compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a Dickson Navy size bag flask with graduated spout, a Colt’s patent 2-cavity blued steel mold with sprue cutter, “L” shaped nipple wrench and a lacquered tin of Ely’s caps. Covered right rear compartment contains a wood handled steel cleaning rod, an orig spare hammer spring, 5 orig replacement nipples and a functioning key along with cast lead bullets and balls. Francis Chateris Forbes was born October 1840 and commissioned as an Ensign (2nd Lt.) in August 1856 into the 37th Regiment of foot (North Hampshire Rgt.) He served during the India Mutiny from February 1858 to March 1861 as Lieutenant and was awarded the India Mutiny Medal without bar. He was then transferred with his unit to China where they participated in the Battles of Takau Fort and Peking. He was killed May 10, 1862. The August 1859 Roll of Officers for the 37th (North Hampshire) Rgt lists Forbes as a Lt, having joined the rgt in October of 1858. There is little doubt that this handsome revolver would have accompanied Lt. Forbes to India and China where they undoubtedly saw combat together in both countries. Very likely it was with Lt. Forbes when he was killed in China. This revolver was featured as found today in the Herb Glass advertisement in the November 1991 issue of The Gun Report magazine. PROVENANCE: Ex. William Guthman Collection, Charles Radcliffe Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including wedge and grip. Bbl retains about 60% glossy orig blue with the loss areas flaked, not worn, to a medium patina. Rammer and handle retain most of their dark orig case colors, brighter on the pivot. Frame and hammer retain about all of their orig case colors, somewhat darkened, bright on the sides. Cyl retains traces of orig blue being mostly a blue-brown patina and overall retains about 90% Ormsby naval battle scene with Ormsby’s signature still visible. Five of the six safety pins are serviceable. Grip frame retains traces of blue in sheltered areas being mostly a dark brown patina. Grip is sound showing light edge wear with minor nicks and scratches and retains most of its orig factory varnish. Mechanics are fine, very bright shiny bore with fine frosting at the forcing cone end. Case is sound with light storage and handling nicks and scratches and retains most of its orig varnish and slightly warped lid. Interior is lightly fade with light soiling in the bottom and light damage from the front sight & hammer spur. Flask is crisp and near new with one tiny dent, retaining virtually all of its orig finish. Mold is fine with light surface oxidation. Other accessories are fine. 4-39636 JR384 (6,000-12,000)

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
	2195	$8,912.50	RARE IDENTIFIED CASED COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 32568. Cal. .36. Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 1-line address “ADDRESS.COL:COLT.LONDON” with spears. Left side of the frame has London style “COLTS PATENT” and the large guard, blued steel trigger guard and backstrap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with last four digits of serial number in backstrap channel. Left side of the bbl lug and cyl have tiny British proofs. Backstrap is engraved in period script perpendicular to the axis of the backstrap “F.C.Forbes / 37th Regt.” Surmounting the inscription is the Forbes family crest of Skellater and Kingerlock of Scotland. The crest consists of an arm clutching a vertical sword which is holding the head of a cow aloft. Accompanied its orig English oak casing with scalloped brass plate in the lid which is engraved identically to the backstrap of the revolver, also with the family crest. Front of the case has a mortised brass lock with round escutcheon. Interior is green baize lined with an orig Colt directions label inside the lid. It is compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a Dickson Navy size bag flask with graduated spout, a Colt’s patent 2-cavity blued steel mold with sprue cutter, “L” shaped nipple wrench and a lacquered tin of Ely’s caps. Covered right rear compartment contains a wood handled steel cleaning rod, an orig spare hammer spring, 5 orig replacement nipples and a functioning key along with cast lead bullets and balls. Francis Chateris Forbes was born October 1840 and commissioned as an Ensign (2nd Lt.) in August 1856 into the 37th Regiment of foot (North Hampshire Rgt.) He served during the India Mutiny from February 1858 to March 1861 as Lieutenant and was awarded the India Mutiny Medal without bar. He was then transferred with his unit to China where they participated in the Battles of Takau Fort and Peking. He was killed May 10, 1862. The August 1859 Roll of Officers for the 37th (North Hampshire) Rgt lists Forbes as a Lt, having joined the rgt in October of 1858. There is little doubt that this handsome revolver would have accompanied Lt. Forbes to India and China where they undoubtedly saw combat together in both countries. Very likely it was with Lt. Forbes when he was killed in China. This revolver was featured as found today in the Herb Glass advertisement in the November 1991 issue of The Gun Report magazine. PROVENANCE: Ex. William Guthman Collection, Charles Radcliffe Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including wedge and grip. Bbl retains about 60% glossy orig blue with the loss areas flaked, not worn, to a medium patina. Rammer and handle retain most of their dark orig case colors, brighter on the pivot. Frame and hammer retain about all of their orig case colors, somewhat darkened, bright on the sides. Cyl retains traces of orig blue being mostly a blue-brown patina and overall retains about 90% Ormsby naval battle scene with Ormsby’s signature still visible. Five of the six safety pins are serviceable. Grip frame retains traces of blue in sheltered areas being mostly a dark brown patina. Grip is sound showing light edge wear with minor nicks and scratches and retains most of its orig factory varnish. Mechanics are fine, very bright shiny bore with fine frosting at the forcing cone end. Case is sound with light storage and handling nicks and scratches and retains most of its orig varnish and slightly warped lid. Interior is lightly fade with light soiling in the bottom and light damage from the front sight & hammer spur. Flask is crisp and near new with one tiny dent, retaining virtually all of its orig finish. Mold is fine with light surface oxidation. Other accessories are fine. 4-39636 JR384 (6,000-12,000) 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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