The Colt Model 1851 Navy was Samuel Colt's most important percussion revolver. 215,348 were manufactured by the Colt Armory in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1850-1873 along with another 42,000 in London in 1853-1857. While it was the second most widely produced Colt revolver of the 19th century after the Model 1849 Pocket, the Model 1851 Navy was the revolver that helped secure Colt lucrative government contracts. Factory engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy revolvers are particularly desirable. This revolver was manufactured in 1859 while famed Colt primary engraving contractor Gustave Young was in Germany. The revolver was likely factory engraved by Georg H. Sterzing given many of the engraving details match well with Colts attributed to Sterzing in "Colt Factory Engravers of the Nineteenth Century" by Herbert Houze, especially the example on page 93. Note for example the details of the floral designs incorporated into the scrollwork, the style of the wolf head on the hammer, and tightly curled, circular scrolls. Sterzing engraved for Colt in the late 1850s to late 1860s. The barrel has a German silver blade front sight blade set in a dovetailed base, the "-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD, CT.-" barrel address, and attractive scroll engraving inhabited by a bird/eagle head on the left side just able the loading lever screw and accented by floral designs. The flats on the sides of the loading lever arm and the wedge are also engraved. The cylinder has the iconic Naval Battle of Campeche roll-scene. The frame has essentially full-coverage scroll engraving on the visible surfaces with punched backgrounds and floral accents as well as "COLTS/PATENT" hand inscribed on the left side rather than the usual stamped marking. The hammer has a wolf's head motif. The trigger guard has engraving at the tip, sides, and on the bow. The back strap has shell patterns engraved by the hammer, scrollwork at the top and heel on the back and on the butt, and an open section along the back where inscriptions were customarily added. The serial numbers on the loading lever, wedge, arbor pin, cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap all match. There are factory apostrophe markings by the serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap signifying special finishing and/or the grip. The butt of the grip to the right of the back strap has "L B W/5 4." The meaning of this marking is not clear. The factory American wood case contains a Colt's patent flask with correct sloped charger, two keys, a Eley Bros. tin for caps noted as "made expressly for/COLT'S PT./BELT & POCKET/PISTOLS.," five cartridges, a blued "COLT'S/PATENT" mold for conical bullets and round balls, and a blued L-shaped combination nipple wrench and screwdriver. Provenance: The Norm Vegely Collection

Very fine. The barrel retains 80% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish with loss mainly from flaking on the forward sections which exhibit smooth brown patina. The cylinder retains 30% of the bright original blue finish with loss from flaking and smooth brown patina on the balance as well as a distinct roll-scene and all but one of the safety pins in good shape. The loading lever, frame, and hammer, retains 90% plus of the vivid original case colors. The engraving remains crisp, and the case colors are particularly vibrant on the rear flats of the loading lever arm, sides of the frame, and back of the hammer. The trigger guard retains 90% plus of the original silver plated finish and displays a very attractive dark aged patina on the silver and some golden rod color aged patina on the exposed brass. The back strap retains nearly all of the original age darkened silver plating at the top by the hammer and on the butt and has loss along the back where it displays an attractive aged patina on the exposed brass. The grip is also very fine and has very attractive natural grain and creamy tones, minimal age cracks, and slight handling and storage wear. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine and has mild age and storage related wear, including staining and fading on the lining as well as some tears. The accessories are very fine with minor age and storage related wear and the majority of the original finish remaining. This is a stunning cased set overall, and the revolver in particular is outstanding with its high condition, beautiful factory engraving, and contrasting antique ivory grip.