October 22-23, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/23/2019
Blue & color case hardened with 7 - 1/2" octagon barrel, brass pin front sight, and one line London address with short spears. Left side of frame has “COLT’S PATENT”, the iron trigger guard and back strap containing a varnished one piece walnut grip with any numbers in the back strap channel, covered in dark stains. Cylinder is usual 6 shots with Ormsby naval battle scene and all six safety pins crisp & serviceable. Left side of grip is stamped, upside down, “U.C / 61 / 33”. Prior to 1854 the Canadian Military was supplied arms by the British government, but at about that point the British military was so heavily embroiled in the Crimean War that they were hard pressed to maintain their own military forces and therefore asked Canada to become more active in supplying their own arms. Canada accepted and in 1855 a commission was sent to England to purchase arms for the militia. Among other purchases, they bought 800 Colt Model 1851 Navy revolvers with 556 going to Upper Canada, the area of Canada now known as the Province of Ontario, and 255 being issued to Lower Canada, the area known today as the Province of Quebec. Routinely these revolvers are stamped on the grip “UC” with a company letter and the rack number of the revolver. This revolver with the number “61” in place of the company designation apparently is an abnormality and the meaning of which is unknown. Reference information obtained from the book "’51 Colt Navies" by Swayze. Accompanied by an English mahogany casing with scalloped brass plate in the lid which is engraved in script lettering “T.H. Bolton”. Interior is red velvet lined with a Colt’s directions label inside the lid. Bottom is compartmented for the revolver, a Hawksley bag shaped flask, a “COLTS PATENT” blue steel two cavity mold with sprue cutter and the locator pin in the left arm, an L-shaped nipple wrench, a packet of five combustible cartridges, and a lacquered tin for Eley’s caps. Right rear compartment is covered and contains lead bullets & balls and an all metal cleaning rod. Also in the front compartment is an 1854 Bank of Upper Canada one penny bank token. All edges of the lid & bottom are rounded. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including wedge & cylinder, grip as noted. Barrel retains 65-70% thinning original blue with balance flaked, not worn, to a light patina. Rammer & handle retain strong case colors, bright on the pivot. Frame and hammer retain about all of their original case colors, brilliant on sides of frame, dark on left recoil shield and turning dark on hammer. Cylinder retains 75-80% strong original blue and about 95% Ormbsy naval battle scene. Trigger guard and back strap retain most of their original blue, strong on trigger guard, front strap, and at the top of the back strap and butt strap, thin on body of back strap. Grip is sound showing edge wear with a few nicks and scratches in the finish and overall retains 85-90% strong original varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with scattered light pitting. Case is sound with normal handling and use nicks, scratches, and dings and retains most of its original varnish. Interior is moderately faded & soiled with yellowed label inside the lid and damage from the front sight & hammer spur. Flask is fine with about 75% original finish. Mold is lightly pitted & slightly battered on outside, nipple wrench is fine, cartridge box is crisp, coin is fine. TDW CORRECTION: Photos updated.
Accessories
Case, book, accessories