This factory engraved and cased Colt London Model 1851 Navy revolver was manufactured in 1854. The revolver has a high-polish blue finish on the barrel and cylinder, casehardened loading lever, frame and hammer and rarely encountered gold plated trigger guard and backstrap. The grip is highly figured walnut with a high gloss, varnished, piano finish. The top of the barrel has an engraved panel that contains the legend "-ADDRESS. COL:COLT.LONDON -". "COLT'S PATENT" is hand engraved in a banner on the left side of the frame. The cylinder is decorated with the roll-engraved naval scene and "COLT'S PATENT". British "Crown/V" and "Crown/GP" proof marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel lug ahead of the wedge and between the cylinder chambers. The serial number "6666" is stamped on the loading lever, barrel, barrel wedge, cylinder arbor pin, frame, trigger guard, backstrap and cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. A punch mark that denotes special finish is stamped below the serial number on the frame, trigger guard and backstrap. The revolver is expertly engraved with finely executed scrollwork on the frame, barrel, barrel wedge, loading lever, hammer, trigger guard and backstrap. The top of the hammer is engraved with fish scales and eyes and the sides are engraved with scrollwork. The quality of the engraving is fully equal to that executed by the Gustave Young shop on Hartford Colt revolvers. The revolver is fitted with a varnished mahogany American style case lined with green felt. The case has brass reinforced corners and lock escutcheon and the lid has an oval brass disk with folding handle. The case is complete with a blued L-shaped screwdriver/nipple wrench, black lacquered Eley percussion cap tin with green paper label, two-cavity brass bullet mold with blued steel sprue cutter, James Dixon & Sons bag shaped powder flask with lanyard ring, James Dixon & Sons oiler, package of Colt Navy pistol seamless skin cartridges, steel cleaning rod with wooden head, small carved wooden container with six extra percussion nipples and key. The case lid has an instruction sheet entitled "DIRECTIONS FOR LOADING COLT'S PISTOLS." glued to the inside. The powder flask has a brown lacquer body, gold-plated top and charger and niter blue spring. The top of which is marked "COLTS NAVY FLASK" in a half circle and "JAMES DIXON/& SONS/SHEFFIELD." The charger is graduated "4/8", "5/8" and "6/8" drams. Provenance: The Norm Vegely Collection

Very fine. The barrel retains 75% of the original high-polish blue finish with some edge wear and some small areas of finish flaking on the top and left side. The cylinder has 40% of the original blue finish. 95% of the roll-engraved naval scene is present and all of the cylinder pins are intact. The loading lever, hammer and frame retain 95% of the original dove gray casehardened finish with subtle case colors. 85% of the original gold plated finish is present on the trigger guard and backstrap. Finish wear is primarily concentrated on the backstrap and the edges of the trigger guard. The engraving is crisp and distinct. All markings are sharp. The grip is excellent with nearly all of the high gloss, piano finish, varnish remaining and almost no handling wear. The action is tight and functions perfectly. The case is very fine with light to moderate handling wear and several minor scratches on the lid. The case interior is in fine condition. The otherwise fine original green velvet lining has several minor stains. The instruction label is fine with two small tears and some minor stains. The bullet mold is fine with some minor dents on the sides and some finish loss on the sprue cutter. The powder flask is excellent with 98% of the brown lacquer finish on the body and 90% of the gold-plated finish on the top and charger. The cap tin is excellent; nearly all the black lacquer finish is present on the body and top and all of the green paper label is intact. The screw/nipple wrench is in fine condition and retains 85% of the original blue finish. This is an exceptional example of a factory cased and engraved Colt London Model 1851 Navy revolver with rarely encountered gold-plated trigger guard and backstrap.