This is an extremely rare Colt Model 1861 Navy revolver manufactured very early in the first year of production, 1861, and is one of only approximately 100 believed to have been produced with a fluted cylinder, per pages 167-168 of "The Book of Colt Firearms" (1971 publication) by Sutherland and Wilson, where serial numbers 11 and 30 are pictured. Serial numbers of this variation reportedly fall under 100 and around the 4,800 range. This particular revolver, serial number 29, is featured on page 96 of "Colt, An American Legend" by R.L. Wilson, also on page 96 of "The Colt Heritage" by R.L. Wilson, page 48 of "Fine Colts, The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection" by R.L. Wilson, and the lot includes an original copy of the 1942 Metropolitan Museum of Art "Catalogue of a Loan Exhibition of Percussion Colt Revolver and Conversions 1836-1873" by John E. Parsons where this revolver is listed on page 27 as item number 83, and pictured in plate XXX. An included letter from Jim Eplen outlines the story of this revolver and how he acquired it from Joseph A. Murphy, and then located a proper Model 1861 Navy case to accompany the revolver, and further indicates that it is his belief there were nowhere near 100 of these fluted cylinder variant Colt Model 1861 Navy revolvers actually made. "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-" marked on top of the barrel, with "COLTS/PATENT" the left side of the frame, and "PAT. SEPT. 10th 1850" marked in one of the cylinder flutes. The left trigger guard shoulder is marked with an "L". The matching serial number is marked on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap. There is no capping groove in the cutout. It is equipped with a German silver blade front sight and hammer notch rear sight, with a one-piece smooth walnut grip. The barrel and cylinder are finished blue, with a casehardened loading lever, frame, and hammer, and silver plated brass trigger guard and grip straps. Includes a correct 1861 Navy type hardwood case containing an array of proper accessories including a sealed 6-count ammunition pack, one Eley cartridge, lead balls, "COLTS/PATENT" martial powder flask, Eley Bros cap tin, "L" shaped combination tool, an extra mainspring, key, and a blued dual cavity bullet mold marked "36 B" on the side and "COLT'S/PATENT" on the sprue cutter. Rock Island Auction Company has only ever sold two other examples of early production Colt Model 1861 Navy revolvers with fluted cylinders, including serial number 3 in November 2012 (Auction 57, Lot 1266) and serial number 11 in December 2020 (Auction 81, Lot 1128). Provenance: The Joseph A. Murphy Collection; The Jim Eplen Collection