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No gun is known to the writer of L.P. Sergeant,
Hugh Harbison’s predecessor as Secretary and
Treasurer of Colt’s, nor of General William B.
Franklin. One personal Colt of R.W.H. Jarvis is
known...Scarce few pieces of other executives,
even of Colt’s 20th century history (up
through c. 1960) are known....his positions as
‘practically the manager of the works’ and as
‘the manager of Mrs. Colt’s real and personal
estate’ all delineate Hugh Harbison as one of
the most important figures in the history of
the Colt Company. Hugh Harbison’s personal
cased set of Colt 1851 Navy revolvers is the
most important and rare artifact from the
career of this major participant in the history
of the Colt company and of Colt firearms, and
is worthy of the finest museum or
private collection.”
CONDITION: Very fine as factory presentation
special finished. The revolver retains 95%
plus of the finish with some light flaking of
the blue and minor spotting. The grip is also
very fine and has a mostly faded cartouche on the left, partially legible cartouche
on the right, small chip at the toe on the left, and light handling and storage marks.
Mechanically excellent. The “book” case has minor storage wear.
B) Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver - Serial no. 50840, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened/nickel finish, walnut grips. See “A.”
CONDITION: Very fine as factory presentation special finished. The revolver retains
95% plus of the finish with some light flaking of the blue and minor spotting. The
grip is also very fine and has legible cartouches on the left and right, a few tiny chips
at the edges, and light handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. Overall,
this is a remarkable pair of Presentation U.S. contract Colt Model 1851 Navy revolvers
formerly owned by an long time employee and officer of Samuel Colt’s famous
firearms business.
Provenance: Hugh Harbison, Bookkeeper, Secretary, and Treasurer of Colt’s
Patent Firearms Manufacturing Co.; The Harbison Family;
Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 30,000 - 50,000
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