Lot 127

Cased Louis Brasch Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver

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Cased Louis Brasch Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver

Estimate: $45,000 - $75,000

Starting Bid: $40,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Excellent Cased Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver with No Patent Marking, Deluxe Grip, "Louis Brasch" Inscription, and R. L. Wilson Letter This incredibly high condition Colt Model 1851 Navy was manufactured in 1863 and is inscribed "Louis Brasch" along the back strap. According to the included letter from R. L. Wilson, Louis Brasch is listed in the Hartford directories as a basket-maker. Wilson concluded that Brasch worked at Samuel Colt's willow ware factory in the 1862-1866 and attributed the inscription as cut by Gustave Young who he noted likely knew Brasch. Wilson also noted that Brasch is later listed as a machinist in 1884 at 262 Main Street and likely worked at the Colt factory. We found that there were two men named Louis Brasch in Hartford at the time, a father (1828-1889) who immigrated from Prussia, was naturalized in 1865, and appeared in the 1880 Census as a farmer and his son (1863-1889) who was born in Hartford. Wilson noted that the directories listed Brasch's address as on Wawarme Avenue and later at 1 Curcombe Street. The latter is notably located along the south east edge of Colt Park and was where Samuel Colt's famous "Potsdam" Worker Houses were built to house the workers of the Colt Willow Works. Colt had a two mile dike constructed in 1854-1855 to protect the South Meadows in Hartford from the flooding of the Connecticut River. Willow trees were planted along the dike to provide stability. In 1858, Colt had Potsdam style cottages built nearby for German immigrant workers recruited by his aid Frederick Kunkle in Europe to produce wicker goods from the willow branches. Kunkle is noted as managing the works, and Richard William Hart Jarvis, Colt's brother-in-law, served as the president and treasurer. Colt's Willow-Ware Manufacturing Co. employed over a hundred workers, primarily German immigrants, and their products were sold across the U.S. and abroad until the works were destroyed in a fire at the beginning of 1873. Nine of the cottages remain and are part of the Coltsville Historic District. In addition to the outstanding condition and the inscription to an identified craftsman in Hartford, the revolver is notable for its lack of a patent marking on the left side of the frame as well as the non-numbered arbor pin, wedge, and loading lever and is fitted with a beautifully figured deluxe walnut grip. Clearly this was not an ordinary production revolver. It features a brass cone front sight, "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-" on the top of the barrel, the classic naval battle scene on the cylinder, "36 CAL" on the left side of the trigger guard, the matching partial serial number "5705" marked on the cylinder and hand-written in black in the rear mortise of the grip, and the matching full serial number on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. It comes in a factory mahogany case with an Eley Bros. cap tin, martial pattern powder flask, cartridge pack, blued L-shaped combination tool, blued "36 B" bullet mold, and some balls and bullets.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1851 Navy

BBL: 7 1/2 inch octagon

Gauge: .36

Finish: blue/casehardened

Grips: walnut

Serial Number165705

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Excellent overall. 95% plus of bright original high polish blue finish remains on the barrel along with 85% on the cylinder as well as a distinct barrel address and cylinder scene and complete safety pins. The loading lever, frame, and hammer retain 90% plus of the vibrant original case colors. The trigger guard retains traces of original silver plating while the back strap retains stronger original silver at the top and butt. Both the brass and silver display attractively aged patina. The inscription is crisp. The grip displays stunning figure and nearly all of the original high gloss piano varnish finish. Mechanically excellent. This revolver appears to have remained unfired, and the minimal wear and scratches are primarily associated form age and light handling. The case and accessories are very fine with minor age and storage related wear, minor oxidation, and 80% plus original finish. Overall a truly spectacular cased revolver inscribed for one of Colt's employees and an excellent reminder of Colt's much wider influence in Hartford in the mid-19th century.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000