Factory cased and engraved Colt London Model 1851 Navy revolver manufactured at Colt's London factory c. 1855. The revolver has the distinctive Colt London Navy features which include: steel back strap and large oval trigger guard, rounded screw heads, cylinder with deep percussion nipple recesses and bordered knurling on the hammer spur. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "- ADDRESS COL: COLT. LONDON-" with arrows at either end of the legend. London "Crown/V" and "Crown/GP" proof marks are stamped in engraved ovals on the left side of the barrel lug and between each cylinder chamber. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene and "ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843." along with "COLT'S PATENT No.". "COLT'S PATENT" is hand engraved in Old English letters on a ribbon on the left side of the frame. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, and back strap, on the side of the cylinder and on the top of the loading lever. All of the visible serial numbers match. The revolver has deluxe, English style low relief engraving that consists of fine foliate scrollwork on a granular background with rosette borders surrounding the hammer and loading lever pivot screws. The engraving covers approximately two-thirds of the barrel, the sides and bottom of the loading lever, the entire frame, the hammer top and spur, the bottom and sides of the trigger guard and the back strap. The barrel and cylinder have an English high polish blue finish, the loading lever, frame and hammer are casehardened and the steel back strap and trigger guard are silver-plated. The one-piece grip is deluxe, highly figured, walnut with a piano finish. The revolver is complete with a factory case and accessories. The varnished mahogany case has a inlaid brass escutcheon and recessed carrying handle. The escutcheon is engraved with a crest that depicts a rampant stag and the handle is engraved: "Edward Micklem, R.E.". The case interior is lined with green baize and has six compartments. Colt's "DIRECTIONS FOR LOADING COLTS' PISTOLS" is glued to the inside of the lid. The case contains: (1) blued steel cleaning rod, (2) blued, L-shaped, combination screw-driver/nipple wrench, (3) blued, steel, straight leg, duel cavity bullet mold stamped "COLT'S/PATEN'" on the top the sprue cutter and "4" on the right block, (4) large, 500 count, tin of Eley Bros percussion caps for "COLT'S PT/Belt and Pocket/PISTOLS." (5) bag-shaped powder flask with "4/8, 5/8 and 6/8 dram adjustable charger, lanyard loop on base, brown lacquer body and gold plated top and charger marked: "JAMES DIXON& SONS/SHEFFIELD", (6) pewter oil bottle stamped: "JAMES DIXON/&SONS/SHEFFIELD" on the bottom and (7) assortment of .36 caliber lead balls and conical bullets. Major General Edward Micklem, (1840-1934) attended the Royal Military College at Sandhurst and was commissioned as a Lieutenant, Royal Engineers in 1857. He retired in 1887. This revolver was formerly in the renowned Robert M. Lee Collection and is illustrated and described on pages 200-204 of "Magnificent Colts, Volume I" by Robert M. Lee and R.L. Wilson.

Excellent. This spectacular revolver is all original. The barrel has at least 98% of the bright original high polish blue intact with only light wear on the barrel edges. The blue on the cylinder shows light flaking but at least 75% of the blue remains intact. The cylinder retains all of the Texas Navy battle scene. The cylinder shows minimal firing wear, and most of the finish on the front and rear face and percussion nipples remains intact. The cylinder safety pins are slightly battered. The loading lever has about 85% of the case colors with some traces of silvering and some scuff marks on the plunger. The frame exterior retains nearly 100% of the unfaded case colors. The inside of the hammer well shows light flash pitting. The hammer has about 80% of the casehardened finish intact with some discoloration on the inside edges. The back strap retains nearly 100% of the silver-plated finish. The silver plating on the trigger guard is about 75% intact with flaking on the grip strap and edges of the trigger cut-out. The deluxe walnut grip remains in excellent condition with about 95% of the original piano finish. The finish shows wear on the lower edges of the grip and has several minor chips. The grips have several shallow handling marks. The flawlessly executed, relief engraved, English scrollwork is deep and crisp with no visible wear. The Colt markings and London proof marks are crisp. The action functions perfectly. The case is all original and remains in very fine-excellent condition. The case exterior has nearly all of the original varnish finish; wear is limited to a few, very minor, handling marks. The green baize lining is unfaded, clean and shows minimal wear. The Colt label on the inside of the lid remains in very fine condition. The cleaning rod has about 75% of the high polish blue finish. The L-shaped combination tool has at least 90% of the niter blue finish intact. The bullet mold has nearly all of the dull blue finish with a few dents and scratches on the end of the sprue cutter. The cap tin is in very fine condition with the nearly all of the brown exterior lacquer and faded but intact green paper label. The powder flask is in excellent condition with 90% plus of the brown lacquer finish on the body, 95% of the gold-plated finish on the top and charger and nearly all of the fire blue finish on the spring. The pewter oil bottle remains in very fine condition. This is a truly spectacular example of an identified, cased deluxe factory engraved Colt London Model 1851 Navy revolver and is almost certainly one of the finest examples of its type extant. Provenance: Robert M. Lee Collection.