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The revolver was manufactured in 1851 and is in absolutely incredible condition and features deluxe factory engraving consisting mainly of scrollwork with crosshatched backgrounds. Though Adler attributed the engraving to Gustave Young’s shop, Young was not active in Hartford yet when this revolver was engraved. Its “early Hartford” engraving style is consistent with the revolvers attributed to Thomas J. Barlow who engraved for Colt in the early 1850s and has more “feather-like” scrolls than the Germanic scroll engraving that became popular under Young, Bodenstein, and other German engravers who worked for Colt later in the 1850s and through the late 19th century. The engraving include gadroon design borders, “COLTS/PATENT” inscribed in an engraved banner on the left side
of the frame, panels of scrollwork on the breech section of the barrel, sides of the loading lever arm, essentially all of the frame, the sides of the hammer along with a wolf head motif, and on the trigger guard and back strap. The barrel has a brass cone front sight and the one-line “-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-” address on top. The cylinder has the classic Naval Battle of Campeche roll scene, the “COLTS PATENT No.” marking, and the “Engraved by W.L. Ormsby, New York” marking. All of the visible serial numbers match, and the lower serial number locations have the factory dot marking designating the revolver for factory engraving and/or special finishing. The grip is a piece of highly figured deluxe walnut with a high polish varnish finish. The revolver comes in a fitted mahogany case with hunter green velveteen lining, an Eley Bros. cap tin, a Colt patent powder flask with slanted charger, L-shaped combination tool, and brass “COLTS/PATENT” ball and conical bullet mold with iron sprue cutter, and assortment of balls and bullets.
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