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CASED COLT 1861 LONDON NAVY REVOLVER, HENRY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
CASED COLT 1861 LONDON NAVY REVOLVER, HENRY
CHALLENER, GUNMAKER, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, NEW SOUTH WALES GOLD RUSH. Cal. 36. S# 12525. Bbl. 7 1/2" rnd., standard configuration, w/ 1 line New York address, serial numbers stamped w/ adjacent “L” for London, English proofs on left side of bbl. housing & each chamber. Housed in English mahogany Colt casing w/ accessories. Another London Colt 1851 Navy, S# 128903, also made 1863 is found in Walter Anderson collection now at Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences in Sydney. There website states marked in butt [identical to this 1861] “FROM / H. CHALLENER / GUNMAKER / SYDNEY". Henry Challener emigrated to New South Wales from Birmingham in 1853, establishing a gunsmith business on York Street, Sydney the same year. The business moved to King Street & remained trading until 1875 when Challener retired & sold the business to F. Hermelin & Company. Guns were always popular in gold rush areas. The gold rush in New South Wales started in the early 1850s when Henry Challener set up shop & in 1863 when this gun was made, gold production was reaching its peak. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: casing is fair to good overall, paper label attached to top green baize lining is chipped & cracked w/ sm. losses but mostly discernible. Baize lined compartments scuffed, worn & soiled. Hawksley bag flask has broken spring w/ traces of original varnish. 2 Cavity “COLT’S PATENT” mold is worn, gray overall. Japanned Ely cap tin is good, 2 loose lead bullets. CONDITION: very good. Complete & matching. Mottled gray patina w/ scattered traces of original blue & case colors, grip straps retain about half of their original silver. Grips retain much of their original factory varnish w/ scattered dings, dents & scratches. Cylinder has mostly discernible rolled Naval battle scene & all 6 functional safety pins. Stamped "CHALLENER" markings are very good w/ only a couple letters dented & hard to read. Mechanically fine w/ crisp rifled bore w/ pitting at muzzle. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Gary Parietti. (01-19059/JS). ANTIQUE. $3,000-4,000.