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LOT 196
Extraordinary Cased Factory
Engraved and Gold and Silver Plated Colt Model 1851 Navy
Percussion Revolver with Checkered Grip and Silver Plated Accessories - Serial no. 91762,
36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., silver finish, antique ivory grips. This revolver was manufactured in 1859 and has the factory apostrophe marking by the lower serial numbers
used to denote engraving and/or special finishing. It
was likely engraved by Georg H. Sterzing. Comparison should be made with the example attributed to Sterzing on pages 92-93 of “Colt Factory Engravers of the Nineteenth Century” by Herbert Houze which has many similar features. The rear third of the barrel, the flat sides of the loading lever arm, all of the frame, the sides and top of the hammer, the trigger guard, and the top and bottom of the back strap are all engraved with classic Germanic style scrollwork with beaded/punch-dot backgrounds. There is a dog’s head above the loading lever screw on the left side
of the barrel, an intertwining line design ahead of the barrel address, and “COLTS/
PATENT” inscribed on the left side of the frame. The barrel has a dovetailed blade
front and the “-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CT.-” barrel address sometimes
associated with Colt’s shipped to the South in the build up to the Civil War. The
hammer has a wolf head motif and was finished in silver-gilt (gold plating over silver plating). The cylinder has the standard Naval Battle of Campeche roll-scene, and the back has an asterisks type marking by one of the safety pins and a “P” by another. It may have also been finished in silver-gilt. The grip is nicely checkered. All of the visible serial numbers match. The deluxe style case has brass bound corners and a blank inscription oval at the center of the lid and the interior has dark brown and hunter green lining and is closely fitted for the revolver and the following silver plated accessories: an unmarked powder flask with slanted spout and U.S. martial themed patterns, an iron double cavity bullet mold marked “36 B” on the side and “COLT’S/PATENT” on the sprue cutter, and an L-shaped combination tool.
CONDITION: Fine. The engraving, markings, and most of the cylinder scene remain crisp. 60% of the original silver plating remains, and the hammer has traces of the original gilt finish. The cylinder is a smooth gray patina, and all of the safety pins remain solid. The grip is also fine and has crisp checkering with a few flaked diamonds, attractive aged tones, and age cracks in the butt. Mechanically excellent. The replated accessories are fine with dark aged patina and very minor storage wear. The case is fine and has mild exterior wear including some slight cracks and separation at the corners and very minimal interior wear. Overall, this is a very attractive factory engraved and rare engraved and plated Colt Model 1851 Navy.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
LOT 197
Documented Factory Engraved Colt Pocket Navy Cartridge Conversion Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 19960, 38 RF cal., 4 1/2 inch octagon bbl., nickel finish,
walnut grips. The revolver features a factory floral scroll engraving on the upper rear barrel flats, sides of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The sides of the hammer have the distinctive wolf’s head as well as floral scroll
engraving. The engraving is a late factory vine and scroll type that incorporates floral blossoms on the left side of the barrel lug, left
recoil shield and right side of the frame. The top barrel flat is marked with the one-line New York U.S. America address in a scalloped border panel accented with scrollwork at the front, the left side of the frame is engraved “COLTS/PATENT,” and the upper left side of the
trigger guard bow is marked “36 CAL.” The cylinder is roll engraved with the stagecoach hold-up scene and marked “COLTS PATENT/No 9960.” It has a partially plugged lever cut out. The complete matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap with “IE” stamped above or below each number. The “I” designates factory ivory grips, and the “E” designates factory engraving. Note that the grip on the revolver is varnished walnut and the included factory letter documents the type of stocks as “not
listed.” The wedge and cylinder are stamped with the partial serial number “9960.” The factory letter confirms the caliber, barrel length and factory engraving. When it was shipped to J.P. Moores Sons of New York City on 9 August 1875 as part of a 57 gun shipment it had a blue finish.
CONDITION: Very fine. The revolver retains 95% of the period retailer nickel finish with most of the loss on the barrel. The grip is excellent showing a few minor handling marks and retaining most of the varnish. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,000
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