Engraved Colt 1851 Navy

SpartanF1

New Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2023
Messages
2
Hello - I'm new to this world of engraving so I'm looking for any help I can get. I recently aquired this 1851 - it's a beautiful gun. The SN is one of the later ones...1865 manufactured date....but Colt lost these records in one of their fires. So I'm looking for any help on the engraving part - who the engraver might have been? What the I.E. stands for after the SN...etc.

Any help at all is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Rob F. IMG_8441.JPG IMG_8442.JPG IMG_8443.JPG IMG_8444.JPG IMG_8445.JPG IMG_8446.JPG IMG_8447.JPG IMG_8448.JPG IMG_8449.JPG
 
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AJB

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2020
Messages
47
A similar pattern of engraving on an 1851 Colt was sold at auction by Rock Island. In their description it says, “The letters “I.E.” are stamped above the serial number on the barrel lug and below the number on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. This marking was used by the factory on revolvers designated for factory engraving…”

You can see the referenced revolver at: https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...d-civil-war-era-colt-model-1851-navy-revolver
 

SpartanF1

New Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2023
Messages
2
A similar pattern of engraving on an 1851 Colt was sold at auction by Rock Island. In their description it says, “The letters “I.E.” are stamped above the serial number on the barrel lug and below the number on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. This marking was used by the factory on revolvers designated for factory engraving…”

You can see the referenced revolver at: https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...d-civil-war-era-colt-model-1851-navy-revolver
AJB - thank you so much. I've been able to find the different I.E and E references on the colt guns. I.E. = Ivory grip/engraved and E = engraved. So much history in these old guns. They are absolutely amazing.
 

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