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LOT 3380
Cased Matching Pair of Colt Model 1851 London Navy Percussion Revolvers -A) Colt Model 1851 London
Navy Revolver - Serial no. 40202, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, varnished walnut grips. This is a fine, totally original cased pair of Colt Model 1851 London Navy revolvers that were manufactured circa
1856. These Second Model London Navy revolvers have the distinctive steel back straps and large oval trigger guards. The
hammer spurs have bordered knurling and the barrels have brass cone front sights. The barrels, cylinders, back straps
and trigger guards are blued and the loading levers, frames and hammers are color casehardened. The one- piece walnut grips are varnished. The tops of the barrels are roll-stamped with the legend: “- ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON-”. The cylinders are roll-engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene, “ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843” and “COLTS PATENT NO”. “COLTS/PATENT” is stamped in two lines on the left side of each frame. London “Crown/GP” and “Crown/V” proof and inspection marks are stamped on the left side of each barrel lug in front of the wedge
and over alternate chambers of each cylinder. The full serial number is stamped on the loading lever, bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, back strap and
cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers on both revolvers match. The revolvers are complete with a
London case and accessories. The oak case has a round brass plate inlaid in the top of lid and the lid is reinforced
with brass screws. The case interior is lined with green felt and has ten compartments. Two of the compartments have lids with brass handles. The case contains an iron cleaning
rod with turned boxwood knob, London blued iron straight
leg .36 caliber double cavity bullet mold marked “COLT’S/ PATENT” on the sprue cutter and “36B” on the right block, blued 1851 Navy nipple wrench with round cut
long barrel and square cut shoulders, two large count tins of green label Eley Bros. percussion caps for “COLT’S PT/Belt and Pocket/ PISTOLS,” unmarked pewter oil bottle, spare spring, Navy bag-shaped powder flask with adjustable charger, polished brass top, fire blue spring, brown lacquer body and lanyard ring on base marked “JAMES DIXON/&SONS/SHEFFIELD”, a key and an assortment of .36 caliber lead round balls and conical bullets.
CONDITION: Fine. The revolver has 60% of the original blue on the barrel. The revolver has scattered minor scratches and handling marks. All of the pins on the cylinder are intact. The percussion nipples, rear face
of the cylinder and sides of the hammer have light flash pitting. The loading lever, frame and hammer
retain 50% of the original case colors. The iron trigger guard and back strap have a silver-gray patina with significant amounts of faded blue finish in protected areas. The grips are very fine and retain most of the original varnish finish; wear is limited to scattered minor dents and handling marks. The factory markings, London proof, inspection marks and serial numbers are sharp. The case exterior is very good with minor handling and storage marks. The interior lining is very good. The lining has minor stains and is torn in several places from contact with the revolver hammers and front sights. The Dixon flask is excellent condition; the top and charger retains nearly all of the polished brass finish, the spring has 90% of the fiery niter blue finish. The bag-shaped flask body has 95% of the original brown lacquer finish; the only wear is one finger-tip sized dent in the side of the flask. All other accessories rate very good. Mechanically fine.
B) Colt Model 1851 London Navy Revolver - Serial no. 40406, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, varnished walnut grips. Described in “A”.
CONDITION: Fine. The revolver retains 75% original blue finish on the barrel. The revolver has scattered minor scratches and handling marks. All of the pins on the cylinder are intact. The percussion nipples, rear face of the cylinder and sides of the hammer have light flash pitting. The loading lever, frame and hammer retain 40% of the original case colors. The iron trigger guard and back strap have a silver-gray patina with significant amounts of faded blue finish in the protected areas. The grip is very fine and retains 80% plus
of the original varnish finish; wear is limited to scattered, minor dents and handling marks. The factory markings, London proof, inspection marks and serial numbers are sharp. Mechanically fine. This is a very fine, totally original double cased set of London Colt Model 1851 Navy revolvers with the original double case and accessories.
Provenance: The Norm Vegely Collection.
220 Estimate: 27,500 - 42,500