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LOT 3209
Very Fine Civil War Era Gustave Young Factory
Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver with Rare
Kidder Case and Factory Letter - Serial no. 132993, 36
cal., 7 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/
silver finish, walnut grips. This is a wonderful
Civil War 1862 production Gustave Young factory engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver with a rare
and desirable Kidder case and accessories. A set such as this very likely may have been presented to a
Civil War officer or important individual. It has an accompanying factory letter that states it was originally
shipped on November 18, 1862, during the Civil War, to Cooper & Pond in New York City, and confirms
it as being in .36 caliber with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and wood grip, as part of a 6 gun shipment.
The letter does not mention the factory engraving, but it is most certainly factory. The revolver is factory
engraved with Germanic scroll work on a punch-dot background by Colt factory master engraver Gustave
Young. The hammer is engraved with the Young’s characteristic wolf head motif. The engraving shares strong
similarities to the Young factory engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy revolvers illustrated on page 139 of “The
Colt Engraving Book, Volume One” by R.L. Wilson. This “Fourth Model” Navy Revolver has the characteristic
large rounded trigger guard, capping channel in the recoil shield cut-out and thin contour loading lever
catch. The revolver has a blued barrel and cylinder, casehardened loading lever, frame, hammer and silver-
plated brass trigger guard and back strap. The one-piece, fancy walnut grip has a high gloss varnish finish.
The barrel is fitted with a nickel-silver front sight blade mounted in a dovetail at the muzzle. The top barrel
flat is roll-stamped: “-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-” in an engraved panel. “COLTS/
PATENT” is stamped on the left side of the frame surrounded by engraved scroll-work. The cylinder is roll-
engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene, and “COLTS PATENT No.”. “C” is stamped on the left rear of the
trigger guard bow. An “E” that indicates the revolver was designated for special handling, polish and
finish is stamped above or below the full serial numbers on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and
back strap. The partial serial number “2993” is stamped on the loading lever and cylinder. All of
the visible serial numbers match. Includes a rare English style W. Kidder mahogany case with the
maker marking and patent stamped on the interior edge, fitted with five compartments and floral
patterned velvet lining, containing an Eley Bros. cap tin with green paper label, a blued iron dual
cavity ball/bullet mold marked “COLT’S/PATENT” on the sprue cutter, “L” shaped combination
tool, key, lead balls, 6-count pack of Hazards combustible cartridges (partially opened but full),
American Flask & Cap Co. “Coat of Arms” pattern powder flask with fixed charger embossed
with crossed revolvers, stars, eagle with crossed flags and a cannon. While it is not marked, this
pattern of flask is shown on page 202 of “The Powder Flask Book” by Ray Riling and identified
as from the American Flask & Cap Company catalog.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% bright original high polish blue finish strongest on the
barrel, 50% vibrant original case colors, strong traces of the original silver plating in protected
areas with an untouched correct mellow aged patina on the brass, smooth gray patina on
the balance of the iron, all of the cylinder pins remaining, with a crisp cylinder scene and
engraving overall. Grip is fine with attractive period applied high gloss varnish finish,
minimal handling marks, and fancy highly figured grain. The hammer
does not cock all the
way back; otherwise,
mechanically
functions. Case has
an excellent exterior
with minor storage
marks, and the fine
original interior
has general age
related wear. The
accessories are all
fine. This is a very
fine example of a
Gustave Young factory
engraved Colt Model 1851
Navy revolver with
a rare Kidder case!
Provenance:
The Jim Eplen Collection.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
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