This Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver was manufactured in 1855. This Third Model 1851 Navy revolver has the distinctive small oval trigger guard, loading lever screws that enter the barrel lug from the left side and beveled loading cut-out. The revolver has the rarely encountered short trigger and blued, iron back strap and trigger guard. The highly figured, fancy grade, one-piece, walnut grip has a high polish varnish finish. A punch mark or "dot" is stamped either above or below the serial number on the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap which indicates that those components were designated by Colt for special finish or engraving. The sides of the barrel lug and upper barrel flats, sides of the loading lever, frame, hammer, trigger guard, and back strap are decorated with Germanic scroll engraving on a punch-dot background. The left side of the barrel lug features the Gustave Young trademark hound's head in the scrollwork and the sides of the hammer are decorated with the typical Young wolf head motif (There are five dots on the upper spur of the hammer which denotes a high level of work performed by Gustave Young's shop). The ends of the barrel wedge and the screw heads are all engraved. The engraving on this revolver is very similar is very similar to the Gustave Young engraved, factory cased, Model 1851 Navy revolver, serial No. 44788, pictured on page 124 of "THE COLT ENGRAVING BOOK, VOLUME I" by R.L. Wilson. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the legend: "- ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-". The legend is surrounded by a engraved border. "COLTS/PATENT" is engraved in a panel on the left side of the frame. The cylinder is roll stamped with the Texas navy battle scene and "COLTS PATENT NO". "ENGRAVED BY W.L. ORMSBY, NEW YORK." is roll stamped in small letters on the cylinder below the patent marking and "ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843" is roll-engraved along the edge of the cylinder. The full serial number, "44789" is stamped on the loading lever, cylinder and the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match. The revolver is complete with a Colt mahogany, American style case with five compartments. The case lid is inlaid with a shield-shaped nickel-silver escutcheon and the case is lined with royal blue velvet. The case contains: (1) Navy size, copper, 'Coat of Arms' powder flask with fixed charger, (2) blue steel, "L-shape, screw-driver nipple wrench, (3) blued, iron bullet mold for conical bullets and round balls marked: "COLT'S/PATENT" on the sprue cutter. (4) 100 cap tin of Eley Bro's percussion caps with green paper label, (5) key and (6) assorted lead round balls and conical bullets.

Very good. The revolver has a smooth, silver gray patina with traces of the original blue finish on the underside of the barrel. The engraving is crisp and deep. The barrel markings and serial numbers are sharp. The cylinder retains most of the delicate, roll-engraved, naval scene. The percussion nipples and adjacent portions of the cylinder have moderate to heavy flash pitting and the safety pins are battered. The grip is in very good condition; most of the 'piano finish' varnish is intact and the grip has only light to moderate handling wear. The case is in very fine to excellent condition with only scattered and very minor handling marks on the exterior. The case interior is in excellent condition; the blue velvet ling is clean, unfaded and free from rips or tears; the only significant wear is a compression mark from the revolver cylinder. The flask is in good condition; the copper body has a mellow age patina. The bullet mold is in very good condition with a number of small dents and scratches. The tool is in very good condition. The cap tin has been opened but retains some percussion caps and the label is in very good condition. This is a very good example of a Gustave Young engraved, cased Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver with accessories.