Very Rare Crimean War London Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver with War Department Markings

Description:
Serial #20170, .36 Caliber, 7 1/2" octagon barrel with a very good, bright bore that has some very mild pitting and freckling within the grooves. This is one of 23,700 Model 1851 Navy revolvers purchased by the British Government for military use during the Crimean War. This revolver retains about 23-30% of a post-1856 arsenal reapplied blue finish that has faded to plum-brown or worn to dull pewter gray on the balance. Matching numbers are present on the frame, barrel, loading lever, cylinder, cylinder arbor, trigger guard, and backstrap (the wedge is unnumbered), with some traces of the cylinder scene still visible. Muted original case-colors are present on the hammer with the balance turned to darkly freckled gray. Both clear London proofmarks, and a small "(Broad Arrow) / WD" War Department property stamp on the left side of the barrel lug, are present. The walnut grip has numerous small handling marks and minor surface blemishes visible throughout, as well as two small plugged holes on either side about 1" up from the butt where a lanyard pass-through was once present. Additionally, there is a large "2" stamped into the wood on the right side (possibly a unit or issue marking), as well as a small British Ordnance proof below. The lock-up is still tight and the action is fully functional, although the mainspring is slightly mushy at full-cock. These guns were issued to both the Royal Navy and select cavalry units of the British Army during the Crimean War (1853 & 1856). They were commercially proofed and proved to be well-liked by the navy, who found them to be very useful during boarding actions, but found less favor with the army due to their small caliber and the limited issue to officers and senior NCOs only. Following the end of the war, the navy opted to keep their revolvers, but the army turned theirs in to stores where they were subsequently refurbished with a new blued finish and "WD" stamps. These revolvers are seldom seen today, and this example, evidently one of the turned-in army guns, is in very good-near fine condition. It would make a splendid addition to any collection of rare Colts or British military handguns. Antique;

Antique: Yes

Price: $3,195.00