US Navy Contract Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver

American Civil War

.36 caliber. 7.5" octagonal barrel. SN: 55801 (mfg. ca. 1856). Blued and color casehardened finish, iron backstrap and triggerguard, one-piece oil finished walnut grip. Single action percussion revolver with six-shot round cylinder roll engraved with Texas Navy battle scene, hammer notch rear sight and brass cone front sight. Barrel marked in a single line: - ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY -. Lower left of frame marked in two lines COLT'S/PATENT over US. Some matching serial numbers, including the wedge, with the exceptions of the loading lever and grip which are not matching. The cylinder also appears to be renumbered but may have been restamped during the period of use as it appears the original number was in the 89XXX range, which would be from the second US Navy contract. Left grip shows a semi legible script cartouche that appears to be the PB of Pomeroy Booth. The US Navy only contracted for a total of 2,600 Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolvers, 2,000 in 1857 and another 600 in 1859. The guns appear in two serial number ranges, with the first order in the 55,500-62,000 range and the second in the 89,000-91,000 range. A decent example of a scarce and desirable martially marked Colt Navy revolver that saw service before and during the American Civil War. {ANTIQUE}

From the Lifetime Collection of Robert G. Paulsen

This lot is located in Cincinnati.