Cased Factory Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver

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  Lot #218  (Sale Order: 217 of 664) 
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Historic Cased Early Production Factory Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver Passed Down Through the Family of Prominent Southern Episcopal Priest Francis L. Hawks and Captain Francis T. Hawks of the Confederate Engineer Corps

This incredibly high condition early factory engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver was manufactured in 1852 and features beautiful early Hartford engraving. Finding these early factory engraved revolvers in high condition is extremely difficult, and few of them have known history. The engraving consists of very circular scroll patterns with some feather-like detailing on the rear third of the barrel, flats of the loading lever arm, essentially all of the frame, most of the hammer along with a bestial mask, and on the trigger guard and back strap along with wavy line borders and some areas of light crosshatching. The "COLT'S/PATENT" marking is engraved on the left side of the frame in a banner formed by the scrolls. This early style Hartford engraving is attributed to Thomas J. Barlow who engraved for Colt c. mid-1852 to early 1854 after previously working for Blunt & Syms in New York City (see "Colt Factory Engravers of the Nineteenth Century" by Herbert G. Houze for more on Barlow and other examples). The factory "dot" marking is stamped above or below the matching serial numbers on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. All of the visible serial numbers match. The barrel has a brass cone front sight and the one-line "-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY-" address. The cylinder has the classic Naval Battle of Campeche roll scene and patent marking. A "T" is marked horizontally on the right side below the shoulder. The revolver comes in an exceptional presentation case with hunter green lining, an Eley Bros. cap tin, martial themed powder flask with sloped charger (original but not original to the set), brass ball/bullet mold with "COLT'S/PATENT" marked on the iron sprue cutter, a blued L-shaped combination tool, lead balls and conical bullets, and a key. The revolver is featured in the book "Colt 1851 Navies and 1861 Navies and Conversions" by Robert Jordan on page 267. The set is accompanied by an extensive binder of research and biographical information compiled by Greg Lampe in which he attributes the revolver as originally belonging to southern Episcopal minister, educator, and author Francis Lister Hawks and then likely given to given by him his son Francis Tomes Hawks in 1861 when the latter went off to war as a captain in the CSA Engineer Corps. This cased revolver came directly from the great-granddaughter of Captain Hawks, Katherine Vaux McCauley, to Michael Simens in 2012 and was subsequently purchased by Lampe. The documentation includes copies of correspondence from when the revolver was purchased from the family. They attributed the revolver as owned by the younger Hawks, but Lampe and others determined that based on the date of manufacture the revolver most likely was first owned by his father while he was an influential religious leader in New York City. Also included is "Revolutionary History of North Caroline in Three Lectures by Rev. Francis L. Hawks, D.D. LL. D., Hon. David L. Swain, LL. D., and Hon. Wm. A. Graham, LL. D." which was compiled by William D. Cooke and published in 1853 and a copy of "Adventures of Daniel Boone" from "A Library for My Young Countrymen" written by Francis L. Hawks and published as by "the author of Uncle Philip's Conversations."Francis Lister Hawks Dr. Francis Lister Hawks (1798-1866) had a diverse career as a lawyer, clergyman, educator, historian, and author. He was born in New Bern, North Carolina, to Francis Hawks and Julia Airway Stephens and was a grandson of John Hawks, the supervisory architect of Tryon Palace, the governor's home in New Bern. The family was fairly wealthy and held thirteen slaves in 1820. Francis L. Hawks graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1815 at the top of his class and then studied law under Judge William Gaston and John Stanley and was admitted to the bar in 1820 and practiced law. He also became a respected orator and represented New Bern in the House of Commons in 1821. In 1826, he began training for the Episcopalian ministry and studied under Reverend William Mercer Green and was ordained as a deacon by Bishop Ravenscroft in New Bern the following year and soon after was ordained as a priest. By 1833, he was the highest paid clergyman in the entire United States and was famed for his oratory skills as the rector of St. Thomas Church in New York City where he remained for twelve years. In 1832, he received his Doctor of Theology from Columbia College. During this period, he also taught at the seminaries, and he was the historiographer of the Episcopal Ch
more... Provenance: The Hawks and McCauley Family; Michael Simens' Historical Arms; The Greg Lampe Collection

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This item is part of Premier Firearms Auction - Day 1
 Friday, May 17, 2024 | 9:00 AM  Central
 
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Cased Factory Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver
Cased Factory Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver
Lot number: 218
Seller: Rock Island Auction Company
Event: Premier Firearms Auction - Day 1
Ends: Friday, May 17 | 9:00 AM  Central

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