Very rare, hard to find, Crimean War period “WD” and “Broad Arrow” inspected Colt Model 1851 London Navy percussion revolver s/n 20138, manufactured circa 1855 for the British military during the Crimean War and later used in the Indian Mutiny.    

This arsenal refinished, London Navy revolver, has all the major characteristics of a London manufactured 1851 Navy revolver. It’s in .36 calibre, with a three-screw frame, not cut for shoulder-stock, six shot cylinder and 7½ inch octagonal barrel, with attached loading lever. It has an iron back-strap and large rounded trigger-guard and complimented with one-piece walnut grips. The gun barrel bears the one-line “ADDRESS. COL. COLT. LONDON” with arrows pointing inward at each end.  

All metalwork on the revolver is in good order as arsenal refinished, including the barrel, frame, cylinder, loading lever assembly, hammer, iron back-strap and large rounded iron trigger-guard. This is a military revolver with “WD” and broad arrow stamped on the left side of the barrel. The butt appears to have a military stamping of ‘GF’ on the bottom of the grip. There is a no cylinder naval scene remaining.

This British military revolver has full matching numbers 20138, to the barrel, frame, trigger-guard, backstrap and loading lever and the matching wedge is numbered with the last three digits ‘138’. There is also a stamping of ‘V III’ in the outer channel of the backstrap under the iron backstrap. At one time there was a hole drilled through the walnut grip to accept a lanyard. It has now been expertly filled. All six pins at the rear of the cylinder are present. The bore is excellent 9/10 plus bright with full rifling. The action is also excellent and in good working order.

This is a great opportunity to own a rare variation of a British military Colt revolver that has most certainly seen much action in the Crimean War from 1853 to 1856 and then in the India Rebellion from 1857 to 1859.