GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
FINE GUSTAVE YOUNG ENGRAVED CASED COLT MODEL 1851 PERCUSSION REVOLVER. COLT 1851 132993 36 Cal. 36. Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2" oct bbl, dovetailed Rocky Mountain style front sight with blued steel blade & 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame is marked "COLTS PATENT" and the silver plated large guard, brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a 1-pc varnished burl walnut 1-pc grip with last 4 digits of SN faintly in backstrap channel. Cyl is unfluted with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking and all 6 safety pins mostly serviceable. All SNs on the bottom are accompanied by a small "E" which was a signal to factory workmen to provide extra polish for engraving. Revolver is beautifully engraved by Gustave Young in his deluxe foliate arabesque patterns consisting of fine pearled background having nearly full coverage on the frame. Two scrolls on the left side and 1 on the right side terminate in flower blossoms. Matching patterns extend over the bbl lug and top side flats with one large flower blossom on the left side and a stylized dogs head in the bottom center of the left side. Right side of the bbl lug also has a single flower blossom and another scroll terminates in Mr. Young''s stylized birds head. Matching engraving patterns are also found on the rammer pivot, backstrap, buttstrap & trigger bow. Top of the backstrap is engraved in Mr. Young''s light fan pattern with 1/4 blossoms on sides of the backstrap shoulders. Ends of the wedge are also engraved. Accompanied by a purple velvet lined Colt mahogany casing that is compartmented in the bottom for the revolver, a correct navy sized flask with angled spout with 2-sided Eagle and Panoply of Arms, a blued steel, unmarked Colt-style bullet & ball mold with sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench, a partial packet of Colt''s Cartridge Works combustible cartridges and an unlacquered tin with green label for Eley''s caps. Also accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this revolver in Cal. 36 with 7-1/2" bbl, blue finish with wood grip shipped to Cooper & Pond, NY, NY on Nov 18, 1862 in a 6 gun shipment. Given that this pistol was shipped late in 1862, at the height of the Civil War, it can easily be assumed that this was probably intended as a presentation or gift to a military person, probably an officer leaving for the war. While there were many such revolvers engraved during that time frame, most saw hard service throughout the war and later on the American frontier and few survive today with orig finish, especially with their orig case and accouterments. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including rammer, wedge, cyl & grip. Bbl retains about 95% glossy orig blue with sharp edge wear & some thinning on left side. Rammer pivot retains bright case colors, the handle faded to silver. Frame retains about 90% strong case colors showing wear around the bottom and rear edges, thinning on the recoil shields. Hammer retains about 60-70% bright case colors turned silver on the back edge. Cyl retains about 60-70% thin orig blue and shows about 80% Naval battle scene roll marking, apparently a light strike. Grip frame retains traces of silver, being mostly a dark mustard patina. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore. Case has a grain check in the lid and 3 more in the bottom, otherwise is solid and shows and old restored finish. Interior is lightly faded inside the lid with light soil. Bottom is lightly to moderately faded in areas with wear from contact with the revolver and light damage from the front sight. One partition is partially loose. Flask is very good with about half of its original varnish. Mold is very fine, showing about 85% orig blue. Cartridge packet is open with 3 cartridges remaining. Cap tin is soiled but fine. 50142-4 JS112 (30,000-40,000)