GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
RARE INSCRIBED COL. COLT PRESENTATION MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER WITH CANTEEN STOCK. COLT 1851 NAVY 79482 36 Cal 36. Fourth model '51 Navy with 7-1/2" oct bbl, dovetailed front sight with German silver blade and 1-line Hartford address. Frame is 4-screw type cut for shoulder stock with flat head hammer screw and extended stock screws. Cylinder is unfluted with Ormsby Naval Battle Scene roll marking. The silver plated steel large guard, trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-pc varnished walnut grip that has last 3 digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Backstrap is very nicely engraved in period script "F.W.H.S." Bottom of frame, just in front of trigger guard, is mounted with a factory lanyard loop. Accompanied by a very rare matching numbered canteen shoulder stock with brass & steel furniture. Buttplate also has matching number. Top of the yoke is period script engraved "F.W.H. Sheffield / with Compliments of / Col Colt". Buttstock is very nicely figured, slab-sawed American walnut with straight grip and silver-plated brass carbine buttplate. Bottom of stock and bottom tang have sling loops. A quick Google search disclosed that F.W.H. Sheffield was one of the founders of the Merchant's National Bank of Dubuque, IA. At the Founders meeting he was elected president and apparently remained so until September 1873 when there was a run on the bank & it was forced to close its doors. Mr. Sheffield is reported to have been a native of Saybrook, CT, having arrived in Dubuque in 1856 or 1857. Nothing more was disclosed until the 1883 census of Utica, NY lists him as being in a wagon making partnership in Utica. Nothing further was learned. This revolver appears to have been manufactured in 1857 which coincides with Mr. Sheffield's departure from Connecticut. Given that Mr. Sheffield was in the banking business it stands to reason that he may have been connected to Samuel Colt through his banking connections. Undoubtedly additional research will disclose the actual connection. PROVENANCE: Paul Tudor Jones II Collection. CONDITION: Very fine plus, all matching including rammer, wedge, cyl, grip and shoulder stock. Bbl retains 60-70% dull original blue turning a little plummy in areas with sharp edge wear. Rammer pivot retains bright case colors, turning dark on the handle. Frame retains about all of its original bright case colors, especially on the sides, turned silver on left recoil shield and a little dark on right recoil shield. Hammer retains dark case colors. Cyl retains traces of original blue, being mostly a light, smooth brown patina and shows about 95% Ormsby Navy Battle Scene roll marking. Trigger guard retains traces of original silver, being mostly a smooth gray/brown patina. Backstrap and buttstrap retain virtually all of their original silver with a few spots of minor pimpling. Grip is sound showing light edge wear with nicks and scratches and damage at the top from the stock yoke and retains about 70-75% original varnish. Mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore. Stock has a slightly opened seam at the toe from shrinkage, otherwise is sound with a few light nicks and retains 96-98% strong original varnish. Yoke retains traces of original silver being mostly a dark mustard patina. Buttplate retains about 65% thinning original silver. All together an exceptional and beautiful stocked '51 Navy with rare "Col Colt" presentation. 49941-26 JR73 (15,000-25,000)