"COLT MODEL 1851 LONDON NAVY REVOLVER WITH ORIGINAL STOCK. SN 94445. Cal. 36. Usual Navy configuration with 7-1/2" oct bbl, scarce dovetailed front sight, 1-line London address with "COLTS PATENT" on left side of the 4-screw frame which has flathead hammer screw and extended stock screws. It has the unusual silver plated brass trigger guard with an iron back strap and 1-pc walnut grip. Left side of bbl lug and cylinder have British proofs. Back strap is inscribed in period script "Prize - Presented to R. Key Esq. / by the inventor - Jan. 16th, 1861". Accompanied by a brass bound English style oak casing with concealed handle in lid with center medallion engraved in old English "R. Key". Case is lined with green baize with directions for loading label inside lid. Bottom is compartmented for the revolver, stock, a Dixon bag flask which is marked "COLTS NAVY FLASK", a blued 2-cavity "COLTS PATENT" mold with sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench, a large & small tin of Eley's caps, a pewter oil bottle, a wood handle cleaning rod and two packets of combustible envelope cartridges. Stock is of nicely figured French or Italian walnut with silver plated brass furniture with matching serial number on bottom tang of the attaching metal and on tang of buttplate. This exact set is pictured en suite as item #78 on pp. 128-129 of the book Samuel Colt Presents, by the Wadsworth Atheneum. It appears in the photograph as it does today with the exception that it is missing two packets of combustible cartridges today which appear in the picture. The set is credited to Mr. Larry Sheerin in the book. PROVENANCE: Larry Sheerin Collection. Wadsworth Atheneum. Dick Neff Collection. Michael Patrick Clark, Collector's Firearms Ltd., Houston, TX. CONDITION: Revolver is extremely fine, all matching including the wedge with bbl retaining about 90% strong, glossy orig blue with the loss areas flaked, not worn, to a medium patina. Rammer & handle retain bright case colors on pivot fading to silver on handle. Frame retains virtually all of its orig case colors, brilliant on sides, somewhat dark on recoil shields. Cylinder retains about 90% orig blue, glossy & bright on back 1/3 with a stripe of flaking in one area and retains about all of the Ormsby naval battle scene. All six safety pins are prominent with five being crisp. Hammer retains most of its orig case colors, strong & bright on sides & back edge, turned dark on top edge. Trigger guard & back strap retain virtually all of their orig silver plating, flaked a little over inscription with some fine pimpling on butt strap. Grip is sound with scraped areas at top from buttstock being installed and has a few minor nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig bright varnish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, probably unfired. Case is fine to very fine with a couple of burns in lid and usual nicks & scratches and retains most of an old restored finish. Interior is moderately faded with light soil and some wear from front sight & hammer spur but completely intact & original. Stock retains about all of its orig factory varnish with a couple of minor nicks with attaching metal & buttplate retaining about all of their factory silver plating. Flask is crisp & clean with a series of small scratches, mostly on one side. Mold retains 60-70% orig blue with balance flaked, not worn, to a medium patina. Cap tins are fine, cartridge packets show stress fractures but are still sealed. This is truly a spectacular set with impeccable provenance. 4-32041 JR195 (100,000-150,000)"
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