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LOT 1158
Exemplary Well-Documented Cased Early Production Factory Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver with Extremely Rare Gold Plated Grip Straps and Deluxe Burl Walnut Grip Featured in Several Notable Publications - Serial no. 5605, 36 cal.,
7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/gold finish, deluxe walnut grips. This incredible early Colt percussion revolver is one of the absolute finest examples of Samuel Colt’s most significant model: the Model 1851 Navy revolver. The ‘51 Navy was Colt’s second most popular revolver after only the Model 1849 Pocket, and Samuel Colt personally used the ‘51 Navy to seek international sales. High end, factory engraved revolvers like this one were particularly used by Colt for advertising and special presentations to promote his business. This revolver was almost certainly made for a special purpose, likely with Samuel Colt’s personal involvement given it is the only known Colt Model 1851 Navy with a gold plated grip frame and also features stunning early factory engraving and a deluxe walnut grip with high gloss finish. Given its incredibly high condition, it comes as no surprise that this revolver has been studied carefully and featured in several publications over the years as it passed through multiple very noteworthy collection before becoming part of the legendary Greg Lampe Collection. This revolver fits within Lampe’s collection perfectly as he is known for incredibly high condition “benchmark” examples of historic arms.
It is pictured in “The William M. Locke Collection” on p.
90, “The Colt Engraving Book Volume 1” by R.L. Wilson on p. 60, “The Colt Engraving Book Volume 2” by Wilson on
p. XV, “Colt Single Action from Paterson to Peacemakers” by Dennis Adler on p. 107, and “Colt 1851 Navies and
1861 Navies” by Jordan p. 266. It was also awarded “The Best Weapon” at the Texas Gun Collectors Association
on Oct. 17, 1982. In “The Book of Colt Engraving Volume 1,”Wilson calls the revolver“in perfect condition”and noted it has “donut scroll decor, and extremely rare gold- plated gripstraps.” In “Colt Single Action from Paterson to Peacemakers,” Adler states that this revolver is the only example known with a gold plated trigger guard and back strap. He also indicates that the engraving “is definitely that of the Gustave Young shop.”
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