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LOT 3205
Exceptional and Desirable First Year
Production Wedge Over Screw Variation Colt
Model 1851 “Squareback” Navy Percussion
Revolver with Holster - Serial no. 800, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl.,
blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. Offered here is serial number 800, a first year production
Colt Model 1851 featuring the distinctive squareback trigger guard. The revolver falls in the First Model Square
Back series, 1-1250. Besides the squareback trigger guard, features of the First Model include a wedge screw under the wedge,
wedge enters in an upside down position, and cylinder pin notched in top one half. The matching serial number “800” appears on the
frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, and loading lever. The wedge and cylinder pin are unnumbered. The 7 1/2 inch octagonal barrel
has a brass cone front sight and “-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-” marked on top. The left side of the frame is marked “COLTS/PATENT”.
The cylinder has the classic Naval Battle of Campeche roll scene. The included leather slim Jim holster is unmarked. The Model 1851 Navy was
the best of the best when it came to a nice belt revolver in the period, and they found widespread use with men like Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill
Cody, and other Western legends during the 1850s and 1860s. These revolvers saw widespread use on the American frontier during the early
years of westward expansion, and would end up being used on all sides of the various conflicts that happened there. Early production guns rarely
survived, making serial number 800 a highly sought after Colt collectible.
CONDITION: Very good plus. The barrel retains strong traces of original blue finish in and around the protected areas with a brown-gray patina on the balance. The wedge screw is absent. The
cylinder has a brown-gray patina and retains nearly all of the scene. Patterns of original case colors remain on the loading lever and frame. The grip straps retain 80% original silver plating. The
grip is very fine with a series of dings on the bottom, otherwise some very scattered mild handling marks and most of the original varnish remaining. Mechanically excellent. The holster is fair. A
well above average condition example of an early production milestone serial number 800 “squareback” Colt Model 1851 Navy percussion revolver.
Estimate: 9,000 - 13,000
LOT 3204
Extremely Rare
Early Production
Two-Digit Serial Number 50 Colt Model 1860 Army
Percussion Revolver with Navy Size Grip - Serial no. 50, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This extremely rare revolver, serial number 50, was manufactured in 1860 in the
first days of production of the famous Colt Model 1860 Army revolver. This early production example has a round cylinder, the very
rarely seen Model 1851 Navy sized grip and shorter 7 1/2 inch barrel. In The Book of Colt Firearms, author R.L. Wilson states: “Several
rare variations exist within the Army series, and these are: 1. Approximately 55 of the first 100 revolvers have round, rebated cylinders,
three screw frames NOT cut for shoulder stocks, Hartford barrel addresses, silver plated brass back straps and trigger guards, 7 1/2” barrels
and Navy size grips.” He further notes that: “The first 100 revolvers do not have capping channels in the recoil shield cutouts.” Serial number 35 previously sold by
Rock Island Auction Company (lot 1113, auction 69) also has an early round cylinder, and serial number 72 (lot 1258, auction 74), has a fluted cylinder. German silver blade front sight,
“-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CT.-” on top of the barrel, small “COLTS/PATENT” marking on the left side of the frame, the noted Model 1851 Navy sized brass grip frame with silver
plated finish and small single letter inspection marks on the left side of the trigger guard, frame not cut for a shoulder
stock, and a smooth oil finished walnut grip. The matching two-digit serial number “50” is marked
on the barrel, wedge, cylinder, cylinder pin, frame, trigger guard, butt, and correctly
handwritten in black ink inside the grip mortise.
CONDITION: Very good, with a very fresh appearance overall, exhibiting
natural smooth gray/brown aged patina on the iron surfaces, clear
cylinder scene and markings overall, a filled in and draw filed repaired
section visible on the face of the hammer, traces of original silver plating
visible around the trigger guard, and bright golden aged patina on the
brass with numerous small nail head dings visible on the butt characteristic of period
use as a working gun. Grip is also fine with much of the original glossy piano varnish finish, some light lower edge wear and scattered dings
on the butts as mentioned, and scattered light handling marks. Hammer does not remain in half cock, otherwise mechanically functions fine.
This extremely rare early production serial number 50 Colt Model 1860 Army revolver would be an significant addition in any Colt collection!
Provenance: The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
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