This Colt London Model 1851 Navy Revolver was manufactured in 1856. The sides and bottom of the loading lever, the end of the wedge, the barrel muzzle, upper flats and lug, frame, bottom and sides of the trigger guard, and back strap are covered with deeply cut English scroll engraving on a lined background. There are simple scroll work flourishes on the sides of the hammer and the top of the hammer is engraved with a scale motif. The edges of the recoil shields, back strap and trigger guard are engraved with double line borders. The legend "- ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON - " is roll-stamped on the top of the barrel in a panel formed by engraved double line borders and scroll work flourishes. "COLTS PATENT" is engraved on a relief carved scroll on the left side of the frame. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene and "COLTS PATENT No". A punch dot utilized by Colt to denote components that required special finish or engraving is stamped below the serial number on the loading lever, frame, trigger guard and back strap. "1" is stamped below the punch dot on the trigger guard and back strap. The full serial number is stamped on the loading lever, wedge, barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number, "2397" is stamped on the cylinder and the arbor pin. London "Crown/V" and "Crown/GP" proof and inspection marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel lug ahead of the wedge slot and above each cylinder chamber. The revolver has a high polish blue finish on the barrel, cylinder, back strap and trigger guard. The loading lever, frame and hammer have a casehardened finish. The one-piece walnut, grip has a varnished, piano finish. The revolver has the distinctive London Navy features which include: large oval iron trigger guard, iron back strap with large hammer notch, elongated bordered knurling on the hammer spur, round head screws and bell-shaped grip contour. The left heel of the grip is crudely scratched with the markings: "Co. D 1862" and the right heel is scratched "JK 22 MI". The revolver is complete with a Colt London factory case and accessories. The mahogany case has a brass plaque inlaid in the lid and is lined with red felt. The case has six compartments and is complete with accessories that include a cleaning rod with steel shaft and iron knob, L-shaped combination screwdriver/nipple wrench, blued iron bullet mold for conical bullets and round balls stamped "COLT'S/PATENT" in two lines across the sprue cutter, 250-cap japanned tin of Joyce's percussion caps with embossed brass disk on the lid, James Dixon & Son, "COLTS NAVY FLASK" marked, bag shaped powder flask with adjustable charger, gilded top, fire-blue spring, brown lacquer body and lanyard ring on the end and several lead round balls and conical bullets. The markings on the bottom of the grip appear to be related to the U.S. Civil War. Colt returned unsold London Model 1851 Navy revolvers in the 42,000 serial number range to the United States in 1860-1861 in anticipation of increased demand with the outbreak of the Civil War. This revolver was apparently one of those guns.

Fine. 40% of the blue finish is present on the barrel. The cylinder has a silver patina with crisp naval scene and traces of blue finish in protected areas. All of the safety pins are intact and the rear of the cylinder and percussion nipples have only very minor flash pitting. The back strap has a silver-gray patina. Traces of the blue finish are present on protected areas of the trigger guard. The loading lever, frame and hammer have a silver-gray patina with small amounts of the case colors in protected areas. There are some minor takedown marks on the right side of the barrel lug around the wedge slot. The delicate deeply cut scrollwork is crisp. The case exterior is very good with several minor scratches and handling marks. The case interior is very good. The red velvet lining is slightly faded and has several minor stains and compression marks from contact with the revolver. The screwdriver is very good with 70% of the blue finish. The bullet mold has a dark patina and is good. The cap tin is empty but is very good and retains much of the brown japanned finish. The powder flask is very good; the flask body shows light to moderate wear but retains half of the brown lacquer finish, the spring retains most of the nitre blue finish and the brass top and adjustable charger have an attractive age patina. This is a fine example of a factory cased and engraved Hartford London Model 1851 Navy Revolver that appears to have been carried in the American Civil War.