Lot 1162ANTIQUE
An engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy percussion revolver with shoulder stock in deluxe casing
13 June 2016, 10:00 PDT
San FranciscoUS$120,000 - US$150,000
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An engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy percussion revolver with shoulder stock in deluxe casing
Serial no. 90140; .36 caliber; 7 1/2 inch barrel stamped -Address Col. Colt London- and framed with an engraved dentate border. Barrel lug scroll engraved with wolf's head on left side and border around muzzle; stamped with British view and proof marks forward of wedge and small 2 forward of frame; dovetailed front sight. Engraved barrel wedge. Blued, case-hardened, and silver-plated finishes. Scroll engraved loading lever lug, frame, triggerguard bow, and gripstraps; hammer with wolf's head and scroll engraving. Cylinder with roll-engraved naval scene surrounding Colts Patent panel and serial number; marked with alternating British view and proof marks on each chamber. Varnished deluxe walnut grips. Deluxe silver-plated and scroll engraved shoulder stock mounts with vacant presentation panel; blued screws; deluxe walnut; serial no. 90138 stamped on top of buttplate and on yoke tang. Complete with deluxe mahogany case with brass corners and vacant circular escutcheon on lid; partitioned interior lined with green velour, interior of lid stamped with gilt scrollwork. Accessories include: silver mounted English style flask marked Colt's Navy Flask/James -Dixon/&Sons/Sheffield, silver-plated two cavity Colt's Patent bullet mold with sprue cutter, two 500 count tins of Eley Brothers percussion caps, a packet of 6 skin cartridges marked Colt's Cartridge Works..., a metal cleaning rod (fitted beneath pistol), an L-shaped combination tool, and extra screws and springs.
Condition: Excellent. Possibly unfired. Barrel retains 98% plus bright blue finish with some scattered light scratches and edge wear; wedge with some loss to finish on face; cylinder retains patches of blue in some areas, otherwise even grey patina, crisp scene. Frame, hammer, and loading lever retain about 95% bright case colors, some light scratches on back of loading lever. Triggerguard/gripstrap retain 95% unpolished silver-plated finish, with scattered areas of flaking around edges. Grips retain 70 to 80% original varnish; scattered storage marks and upper portions show considerable shoulder stock wear; some deep scratches and small losses to finish elsewhere. Shoulder stock excellent and retaining 80 to 90 percent silver-plated finish on furniture; stock retains 100 percent of original varnish with some scattered light storage marks. Case excellent with one large crack across part of lid and scattered storage marks; missing keyhole escutcheon. Interior excellent; no fading, shows some wear to edges from removing and replacing items in case. Accessories excellent; flask with one small dent; bullet mold with scattered spotting on silver plating; percussion cap tins excellent.
See Illustration
Condition: Excellent. Possibly unfired. Barrel retains 98% plus bright blue finish with some scattered light scratches and edge wear; wedge with some loss to finish on face; cylinder retains patches of blue in some areas, otherwise even grey patina, crisp scene. Frame, hammer, and loading lever retain about 95% bright case colors, some light scratches on back of loading lever. Triggerguard/gripstrap retain 95% unpolished silver-plated finish, with scattered areas of flaking around edges. Grips retain 70 to 80% original varnish; scattered storage marks and upper portions show considerable shoulder stock wear; some deep scratches and small losses to finish elsewhere. Shoulder stock excellent and retaining 80 to 90 percent silver-plated finish on furniture; stock retains 100 percent of original varnish with some scattered light storage marks. Case excellent with one large crack across part of lid and scattered storage marks; missing keyhole escutcheon. Interior excellent; no fading, shows some wear to edges from removing and replacing items in case. Accessories excellent; flask with one small dent; bullet mold with scattered spotting on silver plating; percussion cap tins excellent.
See Illustration
Footnotes
Note: Previously attributed to Gustave Young, Herbert Houze, in his recent book Colt Factory Engravers, attributes the engraving to Georg H. Sterzing, see pages 91-92. This well-known revolver is illustrated on pages 42 through 45 of Fine Colts: The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection by R.L. Wilson; illustrated on page 34 of Antique Arms Annual, 1st Edition, edited by R.L. Wilson; illustrated on page 67 of Colt Engraving, 1st Edition by R.L. Wilson, on page 88 of Colt Engraving 2nd Edition by R.L. Wilson, and pages 76 and 77 of Colt Pistols by R.E. Hable. This set was sold in these rooms as part of the Press Collection on February 7, 1993; illustrated in the catalog as item 802 on page 2. With cased silver NRA medal for one of the ten best firearms displayed in 2005; medal no. 102.