Magnificent cased pair of British-proofed, Exhibition grade, factory engraved, Colt Model 1851 London Navy percussion revolvers serial number 37311/. and serial number 37318/. manufactured at Samuel Colt’s London
manufactory, circa 1855.

 Magnificent cased pair of British proofed, Exhibition grade, factory engraved, Colt Model 1851 London Navy percussion revolvers serial number 37311/. and serial number 37318/. manufactured at Samuel Colt’s London manufactory, circa 1855.

This fabulous brace of Colt London Navy percussion revolvers are only seven serial numbers apart. They are engraved almost identically, in Exhibition quality engraving, executed by one of London’s finest engravers. This is the finest style of engraving to be found on London-made Colt weapons. To my knowledge, this is the only double casing, with this Exhibition style of engraving known, as of today.The revolvers are intricately engraved on the barrel, loading lever, frame, hammer, wedge, back-strap and trigger-guard. The frame, recoil shield and trigger-guard all have fine scroll work with hatched background engraving and borders, producing the most profuse scroll patterns to be seen on London Colt revolvers. There are intricate scrolls to the breech end of the barrel and from the muzzle, continuing along the barrel. The underside of the loading levers are finely scroll engraved from one end, to the other. The silver-plated iron back-straps and trigger-guards are also finely engraved. Both sides of the hammer are finely scroll engraved, with scrolling on the top. These pieces of fine metallic art are complimented with one-piece, varnished select walnut stocks.

Both guns bear the address: ‘ADDRESS COL COLT. LONDON’. The address with arrows at each end pointing inwards, has been framed by the engraver. The guns are in .36 calibre, with six-shot cylinder and a 7½ inch octagonal barrel, with the late bevelled cut-out on the right side and attached loading lever. The barrel and cylinder are blued with a casehardened frame, hammer and loading lever. The large iron back-straps and trigger-guard grips are silver-plated. The left side of the three-screw frame, bears a hand-engraved, Gothic style ‘COLT’S / PATENT’ within an unfurled banner. The roll engraved cylinder scene, designed by Waterman Lilly Ormsby, depicts the naval battle scene between the Texas Navy and that of Mexico.   

British proof-marks are stamped on both guns, on the left side of the barrel, forward of the wedge. They have been cleverly framed within an oval, by the engraver. Proof marks are also present, on each chamber of their respective cylinders, on the shoulders, between the nipple recesses.

Both revolvers are in very fine to excellent condition, with much blue to their barrels and cylinders. There are also strong case-colours to the frame, loading lever and hammer. The iron back-straps and trigger-guards retain most of their original silver-plating. The cylinder scene is strong. The pins on the rear of the cylinder remain intact. The action is in good working order.

These beautiful percussion revolvers are cased in an ultra-rare and original deluxe London style, mahogany double case, partitioned to fit two revolvers. The brass-bound cornered lid of the case has a central circular vacant brass plaque, which is surrounded by a sunken circular carrying ring. The interior is lined in green baize.

Accessories in the case include a Dixon & Sons, bag- type flask, marked ‘COLTS NAVY FLASK’, two London manufactured .36 blued steel bullet moulds, both marked ‘COLTS PATENT’, two fire-blued nipple keys, two 500 count large Japanned Eley cap tins with embossed gilded brass discs, a pewter oil bottle stamped ‘James Dixon / & Sons / Sheffield’, a smaller unnamed pewter oil bottle, a small wooden, turned screw topped container, containing several spare nipples marked ‘COLTS / PATENT’, one iron cleaning rod. There are also two spare mainsprings, its original key and loose round and conical shaped lead balls, to complete the set.

This magnificent cased set, manufactured by American entrepreneur Samuel Colt, with full accessories is in fine to excellent condition. It is an ultra rare double casing, of a pair of London Exhibition guns, fit for a king. 

Très belle paire de revolvers à percussion Colt London Navy modèle 1851, qualité d’exposition, gravés d’origine, avec poinçons anglais, fabriqués dans l’usine Colt de Londres aux alentours de 1855. Numéros de série: 37311 et 37318

Ces deux très beaux Colt London Navy ont des numéros de série très proches.Leurs gravures sont pratiquement identiques et ont été réalisées par les meilleurs graveurs londoniens. C’est le style de gravure le plus fin que l’on puisse trouver sur ce genre d’arme.

A ma connaissance, jusqu’à aujourd’hui, c’est le seul double coffret connu avec cette qualité de gravure. Les gravures ont été effectuées sur toutes les surfaces le permettant et les plaquettes de crosse faites d’une seule pièce de noisetier complètent ce magnifique travail.

Les sangles arrières et les pontets sont plaqués argent. Sur le côté gauche, on trouve l’inscription «COLTS PATENT» dans une bannière. Sur le barillet est gravé une scène de bataille navale entre la marine du Texas et celle du Mexique.

Les poinçons anglais sont, sur les deux revolvers, sur le côté gauche du canon où le graveur les a inteligemment inclus dans un ovale, on les trouve aussi dans chaque chambre des barillets et entre les cheminées.

Les de;ux revolvers sont en très bonne condition, avec un fort pourcentage de bleu sur les canons et barillets. Le placage argent est pratiquement intact, la gravure sur les barillets est toujourd bien visible et le mécanisme fonctionne correctement.

Ces deux très beaux revolvers à percussion se trouvent dans un coffret d’origine en acajou, ultra rare dans le style London Deluxe, il est séparé en deux pour contenir deux armes et il est doublé d’un tissu vert.

Liste des accessoires: un poudrier «DIXONX & SONS» gravé «COLT NAVY FLASK», 2 moules à balles calibre 36 inscrits»COLTS PATENT», fabrication London, 2 clés à cheminée, 2 grandes boîtes en métal de 500 capsules Eley, une boutille d’huile en étain avec un tampon «JAMES DIXON & SONS SHEFFIELD», une petite bouteille d’huile décorée d’émaux, un facon en bois à bouchon à vis contenant des cheminées de rechange «COLTS PATENT», une tige de nettoyage en métal, 2 ressorts de rechange, le clé d’origine du coffret et pour finaliser le tout, quelques balles rondes et coniques en plomb.