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Item No.:	10090	Price :	SOLD
Item :	RARE "UPPER CANADA" MARKED LONDON COLT MODEL 1851 NAVY REVOLVER, .36 CALIBER

Description :

This is a London Made Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver produced in 1855. It is a .36 caliber percussion revolver with a 7 1/2" octagonal barrel. The London Facility revolvers had iron trigger guards and backstraps. This revolver bears the markings of "Upper Canada" indicating that it was one of the guns purchased by Canada to equip their mounted Militia men. At about the time of the Crimean War, Canada passed the Militia Act of 1855. The act authorized the establishment of a 5,000-person active Canadian Volunteer Militia Force which included both infantry and several troops of cavalry. The forces were divided into two broad organizational hierarchies, Upper Canada, and Lower Canada. Upper Canada consisted of the territory that encompass the province of Ontario today. The act also provided funding for the equipping of the militia. The act provided for about 800 mounted militia to be armed with Colt six-shot revolvers. Canada acquired 800 revolvers for this purpose and about 560 of these were sent to serve Upper Canada. It is believed that only about 16% of these have survived to this day. This Canadian Militia marked Colt 1851 Navy is one of those pistols. It is in very good condition to fine condition with all matching numbers, including the wedge. The frame retains about 70% of its case colors. There are just traces of blue on the barrel and trigger guard, with about 10% remaining in protected areas. The remainder of the gun has a mottled brown and steel patina. The cylinder has been cleaned. The mechanics work fairly well but there is no half cock notch. The bore and chambers are in fine condition. The rifling is strong. The varnished grips are very fine. The revolver has the proper London Commercial proof and view markings. The left grip is clearly stamped with "U C" over "C" over "34". This indicates "Upper Canada", Troop "C", 34th Man. This is a rare piece of Canadian history with only about 90 left in existence. Stock no. 28956

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