The Colt Model 1861 Navy is certainly among the most attractive and desirable of Colt's percussion revolvers from the Civil War. They are considerably rarer than many of the other major models with only approximately 38,843 manufactured. The model combines the popular .36 caliber of the Model 1851 Navy, one of the most popular revolvers of the 19th century, with the sleeker round barrel and improved loading lever design introduced on the Colt Model 1860 Army. This historic example was manufactured in 1863 right during the middle of the American Civil War and was factory engraved, fitted with a special order grip, and presentation inscribed to a Union soldier from Ohio. This revolver is one of the distinctive revolvers attributed as "Wolf engraved" back before we had a better understanding of who the factory engravers working for Colt were. We know now that this revolver was more likely engraved by Georg H. Sterzing (c. 1800-1871) who was one of the main engravers working for Colt during the Civil War. The engraving is the classic Continental European style popularized by Sterzing, Gustave Young, and other German immigrant engravers who arrived in the 1850s following the revolutions of 1848. The patterns mainly consist of flowing scrollwork with floral accents and beaded backgrounds, and the hammer features the wolf or dog head motif that was essentially standard on factory engraved Colt percussion revolvers in the period. The revolver otherwise has standard markings and features, including all matching visible serial numbers, double struck "COLTS/PATENT" frame marking, and the factory "IE" marking denoting the engraving and grip is marked above or below the serial number along the bottom of the revolver. The back strap features the inscription "F.A. Andrews to Lieut F.H. Wright." Lieutenant Francis Hanmer Wright Jr. (1834-1915) of Tallmadge, Summit County, Ohio, enlisted in the Ohio National Guard in the winter of 1862-1863 during the Civil War and was mustered into federal service on May 11, 1864, in Company D of the 164th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged at Camp Cleveland in Ohio on August 27, 1864. The 164th was primarily assigned garrison duty in the forts outside of Washington, D.C., to protect the capital. These fresh recruits freed up more experienced troops for the Union's push towards the Confederate capital in Richmond, Virginia. After returning home, he returned to farming. He was also an active Republican, member and clerk of the local high school board, and participated in the Grand Army of the Republic. Copies of service records and biographical information on Wright are included, including a letter from Norm Flayderman to Clare F. Short providing what he found on Wright. The identity of the presenter is less clear. No military rank is given suggesting the man was a civilian. There was an "F.A. Andrews" in Cleveland in the period. He may have been a local businessman or friend of Wright's. Provenance: Lieutenant Francis H. Wright; The Clare F. Short Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Very good with traces of original silver remaining in the protected areas of the grip frame and otherwise artificially aged brown patina overall. The engraving and markings mostly remain crisp aside from the faded cylinder scene. The grip is very fine and has attractive natural grain and aged tones along with a slight flake on the lower right edge and slight age stress lines. Mechanically fine.