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LOT 3264
Rare Cased Factory Engraved
Early Production Three Digit Serial
Number First Model “Wedge Over
Screw” Colt Model 1851 Squareback
Navy Percussion Revolver and Rare
Early Accessories Featured in “Colt
Engraving” and “The Book of Colt
Engraving Vol. 1” by R.L. Wilson - Serial
no. 344, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl.,
blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut
grips. The Colt “Revolving Belt Pistol of
Naval Caliber” was designed between
1847 and 1850 and was initially called
the Ranger Model. While around 215,348
were manufactured in 1850-1873, only
an estimated 800 were manufactured
in the First Model configuration! This
Model 1851 was manufactured in 1850
(the first year of production) and is one
of only sixteen engraved first models
known and one of four with a case and
accessories. It is pictured in R.L. Wilson’s
books “Colt Engraving” p. 28 and “The
Book of Colt Engraving” on p. 20. This
revolver features the early factory
scroll and border engraving attributed
to Joseph Delaney on the barrel, flats
of the loading lever arm, frame, and
trigger guard, with a bestial motif on
the hammer. While Wilson stated the
engraving is “identical” to sn. 2 (see the
Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection,
accession number: 68.157.2), the
engraving on sn. 344 is actually higher
coverage and features some more ornate
details. On sn. 344 the engraving runs the
length of the barrel while sn. 2 has a gap
between scrollwork and the floral border
at the muzzle, and sn. 344 has ornate
wavy line borders on the frame while sn. 2
has simpler lined borders. Otherwise the
two revolvers do feature nearly identical
engraving clearly cut by the same
talented engraver.
As pictured & described in Colt
Engraving & The Book of Colt
Engraving by Wilson
Collector’s Fact
While around 215,348 were manufactured in 1850-1873,
only an estimated 800 were manufactured in the First Model
configuration! This Model 1851 was manufactured in 1850
(the first year of production) and is one of only sixteen engraved
first models known and one of four with a case and accessories.
225