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  • /Lot 3264

Lot 3264:3 Digit Serial Number Engraved 1st Model Colt Model 1851 Navy

August 17th, 2025|Bedford, TX
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 3264

Lot 3264:3 Digit Serial Number Engraved 1st Model Colt Model 1851 Navy

August 17th, 2025|Bedford, TX
Estimated Price$50,000 - $85,000
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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

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. It has the early style barrel with an non-beveled loading cut out, screw under the wedge, brass cone front sight, and "-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-" stamped on top. The left side of the frame has the "COLT'S/PATENT" marking. The cylinder has the classic Naval Battle of Campeche roll scene. The trigger guard has the early squareback bow. The matching serial number is marked on the loading lever, barrel lug, cylinder pin, cylinder, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The wedge is blank, and the grip was not dismounted for inspection, but likely has the matching serial number handwritten in the mortise. It comes in a proper factory hardwood case with correct first model accessories, including a W. & C. Eley cap tin (Rapley CT8), Navy bullet mold with "COLTS/PATENT" on the side of the brass body and heeled conical bullet design (correct for "Wedge Over Screw" Navy revolvers pre-serial number 500 per Rapley see M21), assortment of lead bullets, early style L-shaped combination tool (Rapley T15), a key, and a brass powder flask with single side design of a panoply of arms over crossed revolving rifles, a smaller Colt revolver, and "COLTS PATENT" in a banner. This same flask pattern is pictured and discussed as flask 10 on pages 148 and 149 of "Colt Percussion Accoutrements, 1834-1873" by Rapley and is listed as "the first of the flasks for the 1851 Navy Model . . .This flask is appropriate for the First Model 1851 Navy with the square-back trigger guard, having the screw beneath the wedge." The case and accessories were originally with an engraved First Model '51 Navy that was purchased from Michael Simens, and they were paired back to this revolver by Greg Lampe. Provenance: The Dr. Robert J. Nelson Collection; The Johnny Bassett Collection; The George Allen Collection; The Michael Leff Collection; The Ron Dean Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection

ConditionFine. The engraving, markings, and cylinder scene remain crisp. The barrel retains 40% plus of the original blue finish, and the grip frame retains 90% plus original silver plating. There are traces of original case colors. The balance displays smooth brown and gray patina and some faint pitting. The grip is very fine and retains most of the varnish and has only minor edge wear, scratches, and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are very fine and have only minor age and storage relate wear.
Details
ManufacturerColt
Model1851 Navy
TypeRevolver
Serial number
ClassAntique
Caliber / Gauge36
Barrel7 1/2 inch octagon
Finishblue/casehardened/silver
Gripwalnut
Bore conditionThe bore is partially bright with some pitting, brown patina, and defined rifling.

Item LocationBedford, TX
Views415
Catalog page224
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