Colt Model 1851 "Navy-Navy" Revolver Inscribed to Confederate Col. William W. Loring

American Civil War

.36 caliber. 7.5" octagonal barrel. SN: 90497 (mfg. ca.1859). No finish, iron backstrap and triggerguard, one-piece walnut grip. Single action percussion revolver with hammer notch rear sight, post front sight and roll-engraved smooth round six-chambered cylinder. Barrel with one-line Hartford address, lower left of frame with COLT'S/PATENT mark over U.S. Matching serial numbers throughout with the exception of the replaced wedged and replaced grip. Backstrap engraved in an Old English style font Col. William W. Loring 1861. Backstrap with a major welded repair at its top behind the recoil shield, hammer spur with welded repair as well.

The revolver is part of the second major contract from the US Navy for Colt Model 1851 Navy revolvers. These guns are found in the 89,000-91,000 serial number range and have the "U.S." mark on the frame, as well as inspection marks on the bottom of wood grip. As these grips are not original to the gun, no such inspection marks are present. The chances that a US Navy purchased revolver delivered in 1859 would have been captured and inscribed to a prominent Confederate officer in 1861 are somewhat remote, and the style of the engraved presentation is somewhat uncommon for the period. The revolver is accompanied by a binder of research about Loring as well as the original webpage information about the gun from the seller in 2019 and a certificate of authenticity from the same.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg