GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
FINE LATE COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. COLT 1851 214367 36 Cal. 36. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2" oct bbl, brass pin front sight & 1-line "New-York U.S. America" address. Left front side of frame has small "COLTS PATENT" and left shoulder trigger guard is marked "36 CAL". the brass grip frame contains a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with last 4-digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Cylinder is un-fluted with 6 chambers and Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. Wedge has an orig number "17375" with last 3-digits of matching SN stamped above. Rammer handle is properly un-numbered. The model 1851 Navy was produced in fairly large numbers (215,348) 1850-1873 indicating that this revolver was produced in about 1873 near the end of production. The 1851 Navy was extremely popular throughout the Civil War, on both sides, for its light weight and fairly large grip with smaller caliber that still packed a pretty good punch. They were equally popular on the American frontier after the war with both lawmen and outlaws. It is well documented that James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickock carried a brace of these pistols during his storied career. Numerous other luminaries of that era are also known to have carried and used them. Most saw very hard service and are rarely found today with high original finish. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except wedge as noted above. Bbl retains about 85-90% glossy orig blue with sharp edge & muzzle end wear and a few scattered spots of light thinning. Rammer & handle retain strong, bright case colors. Frame retains about 90% bright case colors, somewhat faded on left recoil shield. Hammer retains faded case colors turned dark on top edge. Cylinder retains about 60% thin orig blue and shows about 95% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. Chambers of the cylinder still show some of their orig blue indicating very little use. Trigger guard & backstrap retain traces of orig silver, being an overall medium mustard patina. Grip shows moderate sharp edge wear with a few light nicks & scratches in the finish and overall retains about 88-90% strong orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with good shine and scattered pitting. 52705-4 JRL (5,000-9,000)