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LOT 3246
Rare and Historic Royal Presentation Cased Pair
of Factory Deluxe Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy
Percussion Revolvers Presented by King Victor
Emmanuel II of Italy to General Alessandro
Negri di Sanfront
-A) Colt London Model 1851 Navy Revolver - Serial no.
21909, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/
silver/gilt finish, highly figured varnished walnut grips. The
deluxe rosewood brass cornered presentation case features
the crest of the House of Savoy on the central lid escutcheon
and “DONO DI S. M. IL RE V. E. AL GENERALE DI SANFRONT”
inscribed below indicating presentation of this extraordinary
cased set by King Victor Emanuel II of Italy (1820-1878) to
General Alessandro Negri di Sanfront (1804-1884). These
historic revolvers date to 1855 within Colt’s London factory
Model 1851 Navy serial number range and are notably
within the same serial number range as serial number 21900
and 21904 which featured Napoleon III’s cipher and are
identified as presented to Napoleon on behalf of Samuel
Colt. This pair has very similar engraving suggesting Colt had
his London factory prepare a group of special presentation
grade revolvers starting around 21900 in 1855. Some of
the highly engraved revolvers from the London factory are
known to have remained at the factory for multiple years.
Napoleon III was notably an ally of the Italian king, and Colt
had his eyes on opening another factory in
Continental Europe.
King Victor Emmanuel I I
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