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LOT 3270
Well-Documented Beautiful
and Historic Presentation Cased
Deluxe Factory Engraved Colt
Model 1851 Navy Percussion
Revolver with Ivory Grip
Inscribed to Mexican President
Benito Juarez from Future
Mexican President Sebastian
Lerdo de Tejada and Solid Gold
Mexican Coat of Arms - Serial no.
93347, 36 cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened/silver
finish, ivory grips. This historic Colt
revolver was manufactured in 1860
early in the presidency of Benito
Pablo Juarez Garcia (1806-1872),
and the left side of the grip is
inscribed as presented to him by
Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, then
a leading Republican figure and
later Juarez’s successor. The case lid
escutcheon is also inscribed “Benito
Juarez” in script. The inscription
to one of the a Mexican president
from his future successor makes
this beautiful Colt one of the most
historically significant firearms in
Mexican history, especially given
President Benito Juarez remains a
national hero thanks to his defense
of Mexican independence and the
constitutional republic.
The revolver features stunning
factory engraving composed
of elaborate interlacing foliate
scrollwork with beaded
backgrounds and floral accents.
This style was popularized under
primary engraving contractor
Gustave Young in latter half of the
1850s and continued on by other
German immigrant engravers
through the end of the percussion
era. Unlike many of the factory
engraved Colts of the era, the
scrollwork features interesting
foliate designs in a wider variety
of shapes giving the revolver
a particularly distinct look and
appeal. The hammer features the
classic dog or wolf head motif.
The barrel has a dovetailed blade
front sight and the one-line
“-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD,
CT.-” address. A “2” is stamped
on the left side of the barrel lug.
The cylinder has the iconic Naval
Battle of Campeche roll-scene. The
left side of the frame has “COLT’S/
PATENT” hand inscribed in an open
panel formed by the engraving. The
matching serial number is seen on
the cylinder, loading lever (3347),
barrel, frame, trigger guard,
and toe of the back strap. The
factory apostrophe marking is
found by the numbers on the
barrel, frame, trigger guard,
and back strap designating the
revolver for engraving/special
finishing. The right side of the
grip has a large rendition of
the Mexican coat of arms in
heavy gold featuring the
distinctive golden eagle
clutching a rattlesnake in
its beak and claws while
perched on a cactus. The snake
and eagle have turquoise
eyes. The left side of the grip
is inscribed “Al siste/
Lic. Benito/Juarez/
respetuosamente/
Sebastian/Lerdo de/
Tejada” with black
enamel providing
contrast. The
inscription translates
to “To Lic. Benito
Juarez respectfully
Sebastian Lerdo
of Tejada.” “Lic.” is
an abbreviation
for “Licenciado”
(Graduate/Bachelor/
Licensed) reflecting
his law degree. The
rosewood presentation
case’s lid features an
inlaid brass plaque
inscribed “Benito Juarez.”
The interior is lined in
red velvet and contains a
Colt L-shaped combination
nipple wrench and
screwdriver, double sided
martial pattern powder
flask with slanted charger,
a blued “COLT’S/PATENT”
dual cavity ball/bullet
mold, and a few balls
and bullets.
The revolver is
illustrated and
discussed on
page 127 as item
77 in “Samuel
Colt Presents”
by R.L. Wilson
in 1961 and also
listed on page 288
in Appendix A. The
book indicates the set
was “Lent by Mr. John
S. duMont.”
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