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  Extremely Fine and Rare Double Cased Pair of Early Production Donut Scroll Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolvers
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LOT 3205
Scarce Cased Pair of Early Production Factory Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolvers - Serial no. 12153, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, highly figured varnished walnut grips. The Colt Model 1851 Navy or “Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval
Caliber” was arguably the most significant model in terms of making Samuel Colt the most dominant figure in revolving firearms in the mid 19th century.
While it was the second most popular of his percussion revolvers in terms of the total number produced, it was the ‘51 Navy that met with the most international success following his exhibition of arms at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. These revolvers were both manufactured in 1852 nearly back to back (only 12154 in between) and feature the early Hartford “donut scroll” engraving style found on engraved Colts from the early 1850s. This style is so named thanks to the very circular scrolls. The engraving patterns on the two revolvers
is very similar in style but is somewhat different in the specific designs. For example, the first revolver has plain top barrel flat, and some more “feather” style scrolls whereas the second revolver has an entwining line finial on the barrel and front of the loading lever engraving, engraved borders around the barrel address, fan designs at the bottom of the barrel lug, and some different scroll shapes such as one larger scroll at the rear of the sides of the frame.
Both revolvers have the dot marking used by the factory to designate revolvers selected for engraving and/or special finishing, crosshatch backgrounds, “COLTS/PATENT” hand inscribed in banners on the left side of the frames, sea monster style hammers, all matching visible serial numbers, the one-line New York City barrel address, the standard Naval Battle of Campeche roll scene on the cylinders, brass cone front sights, and varnished walnut grips. The case is fitted
to the two revolvers and contains two cartridge packs, a varnished double sided navy powder flask with sloped spout, Eley Bros. cap tin, L-shaped combination tool, brass bullet mold with “COLTS/PATENT” marked iron sprue cutter, and a key.
 

























































































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