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LOT 264
Fine Civil War Production Civilian Colt Model 1861 Navy Percussion Revolver -
Serial no. 18611, 36 percussion cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1864. The top of
the barrel has the one-line New York U.S. American address, the frame has “COLTS/PATENT” on the left side, the trigger guard has “36 CAL” on the left
side, and the cylinder has the roll-engraved Texas Naval battle scene. Matching numbers are found on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder,
arbor pin and wedge. A streamline version of the Model 1851 Navy, the Model 1861 Navy is often considered the most attractive of all Colt percussion
revolvers. Although manufactured from 1861 to 1873, Colt produced the Model 1861 in limited production quantities.
CONDITION: Fine. The revolver has a mottled gray patina with the barrel retaining 25% original blue finish. Most of the cylinder scene remains. 40%
original case colors remain on the hammer and frame. The grip straps retain traces of original silver plating in the protected areas. The grip is very fine showing a number of minor
dings and scratches and retaining most of the varnish. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 265
Two Colt’s Cartridge Works Packs of Six Navy Caliber
Combustible Envelope Cartridges - The first pack is the rare early
style c. 1859-1860 with a wire around the front and back of the
package for a center tear. It is noted by the consignor as coming
from the Robert Berryman Collection. The second pack is the later
style c. 1860s with brown paper and shellac and is designed to be
opened along the outside. See on pages 384-385 of “Colt Percussion
Accoutrements” by Rapley. Both packs are paper construction with
black ink markings reading “6 Combustible Envelope/CARTRIDGES,/
MADE OF HAZARD’S POWDER/EXPRESSLY FOR/COL. COLT’S PATENT/
REVOLVING BELT PISTOL./ADDRESS/COLT’S CARTRIDGE WORKS,/
HARTFORD, CONN./U.S. AMERICA” on the front.
CONDITION: Fine to very fine, with minor scuffing and stains.
Provenance: The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 266
Second Style Brass Bullet Mold for the Colt 1851 Navy
Percussion Revolver - Primarily constructed from brass,
with a steel alignment pin, hinge, and bright steel sprue cutter marked “COLTS/PATENT” on top.
No Colt markings are legible on the blocks, with straight legs. Two chambers, a round ball and a
pointed and heeled conical bullet.
CONDITION: Very fine overall, with a number of dings and dents on the blocks and small patches of
brown patina on the sprue cutter.
Provenance: The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection.
Estimate: 1,200 - 1,800
LOT 263
Fine Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 191778, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch
octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1866, this is a
fine example of one of Colt’s most prolific percussion revolvers, the Model 1851 Navy, also known
as the “Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber”. The ‘51 Navy saw widespread use during the Civil War and continued in use
well after, making their way westward to the frontier, and remaining a trusted sidearm until widely supplanted by metallic cartridge revolvers towards
the end of the century. This example is marked with the standard single line address on the top flat, while the “COLTS/PATENT” marking is on the left of
the frame. The matching serial number is on the bottom of the frame, barrel lug, trigger guard, and back strap, and the matching last four digits are on
the cylinder and wedge. The caliber marking is on the left rear of the trigger guard. It is fitted with a brass cone front sight, hammer notch rear sight,
and a smooth walnut one-piece grip.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 80% of the original blue finish on the barrel, mostly brown patina on the cylinder, and strong traces of both the original case colors and silver with
the balance mostly a grey patina speckled with brown and an attractively aged brass. The grip is very fine with some light edge wear, a few minor dings, and most of the
original varnish. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500