HISTORIC AND RARE CASED AND INSCRIBED COLT LONDON FIRST MODEL SQUARE-BACK NAVY REVOLVER AND ACCOUTREMENTS.

HISTORIC AND RARE CASED AND INSCRIBED COLT LONDON FIRST MODEL SQUARE-BACK NAVY REVOLVER AND ACCOUTREMENTS. An extremely rare Colt revolver-even rarer in cased form-with an English regimental inscription. This revolver, SN 361, is among the earliest Colt London Navy revolvers known. The revolver is a scarce First Model London Colt with silver-plated brass square-back trigger guard and backstrap. The revolver is .36 cal. with a 7 ½ “octagonal bBl and a six shot cylinder. The backstrap is inscribed T. M. Sunter/7th Fusiliers.

The 7th Regiment Royal Fusiliers have a long and illustrious history of combat and duty. In 1751 the Regiment was termed the 7th or Royal Fuziliers. The 7th were in Quebec in 1775 and served there and in New York during the American War of Independence, fighting also at Charleston 1780 and Cowpens 1781 before returning home in 1783. The 7th started life as the regiment of the City of London. Following the American Revolution the Regiment became titled 7th Royal Fusiliers. During the period in which this revolver was manufactured (1853-1857), the Regiment served brief periods in garrisons and tours of duty both at home and abroad. The Crimean War saw the 7th as part of the Light Division at the Battle of the Aima in 1854 where they won great renown. In all, the 7th won five Victoria Crosses during the Crimean War. The Indian Mutiny followed shortly thereafter and the 7th Royal Fusiliers arrived on the field from England in December 1857. In 1863 the 1st Battalion of the 7th was on the North West Frontier of India and the 2nd Battalion went to Canada from 1866 to 1870 where they were involved in the Fenian Raids.

The rare Colt first model square back revolver is fully cased with accoutrements. The Colt factory case has a rectangular (with scalloped edges) brass escutcheon inlaid on the top of the lid also inscribed T.M. Sunter, Esq. Inside is a near complete set of accoutrements including the Colt cleaning rod, oiler, nipple wrench and screw driver, brass .36 cal. bullet mold, a rare bag shaped flask marked Colt’s Navy Flask/James Dixon & Son/Sheffield and a large tin of W&C Ely percussion caps marked London with green paper label. This cased Colt revolver is photographed and described in COLONEL COLT LONDON: THE HISTORY OF COLT’S LONDON FIREARMS, 1851-1857 (London, 1976) by Joseph G. Rosa. CONDITION: Excellent. Revolver has much orig factory finish with approximately 50% bright factory bluing on the bbl and strong case colors on the frame. About 60% of the orig silver-plating remains on the backstrap and trigger guard. 1-pc Walnut grip retains most of its orig varnish. Case is Colt factory made of Walnut with interior fittings of red velvet. Label in the top of the lid is intact but shows checking, cracking but it remains securely in place. Powder flask is in fine condition with most of its orig finish. Bullet mold is excellent and other tools and accoutrements in very good to excellent condition. A wonderful and rare cased Colt London revolver with an historic British regimental inscription. 4-53646 CoW5 (20,000-30,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2005

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
	639	$17,250.00	HISTORIC AND RARE CASED AND INSCRIBED COLT LONDON FIRST MODEL SQUARE-BACK NAVY REVOLVER AND ACCOUTREMENTS. An extremely rare Colt revolver-even rarer in cased form-with an English regimental inscription. This revolver, SN 361, is among the earliest Colt London Navy revolvers known. The revolver is a scarce First Model London Colt with silver-plated brass square-back trigger guard and backstrap. The revolver is .36 cal. with a 7 ½ “octagonal bBl and a six shot cylinder. The backstrap is inscribed T. M. Sunter/7th Fusiliers. The 7th Regiment Royal Fusiliers have a long and illustrious history of combat and duty. In 1751 the Regiment was termed the 7th or Royal Fuziliers. The 7th were in Quebec in 1775 and served there and in New York during the American War of Independence, fighting also at Charleston 1780 and Cowpens 1781 before returning home in 1783. The 7th started life as the regiment of the City of London. Following the American Revolution the Regiment became titled 7th Royal Fusiliers. During the period in which this revolver was manufactured (1853-1857), the Regiment served brief periods in garrisons and tours of duty both at home and abroad. The Crimean War saw the 7th as part of the Light Division at the Battle of the Aima in 1854 where they won great renown. In all, the 7th won five Victoria Crosses during the Crimean War. The Indian Mutiny followed shortly thereafter and the 7th Royal Fusiliers arrived on the field from England in December 1857. In 1863 the 1st Battalion of the 7th was on the North West Frontier of India and the 2nd Battalion went to Canada from 1866 to 1870 where they were involved in the Fenian Raids. The rare Colt first model square back revolver is fully cased with accoutrements. The Colt factory case has a rectangular (with scalloped edges) brass escutcheon inlaid on the top of the lid also inscribed T.M. Sunter, Esq. Inside is a near complete set of accoutrements including the Colt cleaning rod, oiler, nipple wrench and screw driver, brass .36 cal. bullet mold, a rare bag shaped flask marked Colt’s Navy Flask/James Dixon & Son/Sheffield and a large tin of W&C Ely percussion caps marked London with green paper label. This cased Colt revolver is photographed and described in COLONEL COLT LONDON: THE HISTORY OF COLT’S LONDON FIREARMS, 1851-1857 (London, 1976) by Joseph G. Rosa. CONDITION: Excellent. Revolver has much orig factory finish with approximately 50% bright factory bluing on the bbl and strong case colors on the frame. About 60% of the orig silver-plating remains on the backstrap and trigger guard. 1-pc Walnut grip retains most of its orig varnish. Case is Colt factory made of Walnut with interior fittings of red velvet. Label in the top of the lid is intact but shows checking, cracking but it remains securely in place. Powder flask is in fine condition with most of its orig finish. Bullet mold is excellent and other tools and accoutrements in very good to excellent condition. A wonderful and rare cased Colt London revolver with an historic British regimental inscription. 4-53646 CoW5 (20,000-30,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2005 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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