April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
This is considered a late Third Model with the enlarged beveled loading cut-out. Has the Colt factory dovetail sight that first appeared on the Third Model. Hartford address on barrel. This Navy falls into the last batch of US Navies between serial number 78500 and 80200 with the small iron trigger guard. Most small iron trigger guard US Navies after serial number 72624 have the Hartford barrel address. This example also has the rare shoulder stock cut out on backstrap with the lanyard loop mounted in front of trigger guard; only 275 of these models were manufactured for shoulder stocks according to the book on Colt 1851 and 1861 Navies by Jordan and Geri. This martial pistol does not have the US stamp on frame, simply Colt's patent. This is considered a Navy-Army with a serial number that falls in between the early purchases and late purchases, and also has the Army inspector "K" stamp on left front trigger bow. The book notes a mere 12 Second Model stocked Old Model Navies. Other features of this rare Navy include a large Naval anchor stamped on right grip (probably not factory), left rear trigger bow has inspector stamp "G" (not listed in book), bottom left side of barrel has a "2". According to the book, the Army did not buy any stocked '51 Navies but the only two inspector marks on the left trigger bow are "K" and "G". The front of the cylinder is stamped with the asterisk. Walnut stocks are oil finish but there are no inspector stamps visible. Full or partial matching serial numbers on frame, barrel, trigger guard, backstrap, cylinder, wedge, loading lever, and cylinder post. CONDITION: All metal on gun is basically a soft, grey patina. Muzzle is slightly worn from holster. The naval battle scene on cylinder is strong and 80% visible. Stocks are in excellent condition and proud to metal. Indexes and locks up correctly. Strong, clean bore. This begs the question: if the Army did not buy stocked Navies, and this has an Army inspector stamp and falls between the two Army purchases, was it purchased and simply not recorded or is it a civilian purchase where a gun was built using an Army inspected small iron trigger guard with lanyard attachment to match the buttstock attachment on backstrap? In either case, it is an extremely rare and clean revolver.
Caliber/Bore
.36 Percussion