This is one interesting old Colt. It is at first glance a high finish London Navy BUT it bears a serial number completely out of the range of London Navies. In addition it has the rarely but sometimes seen -L- stamped below some of the serials which indicates shipment to London, not manufacture in London. Standard London Navy revolvers were numbered in their own range which is believed to be 1 through 42,910 and made between 1853 and 1857 in England. These guns are not found bearing the L marking. However, a handful of English proofed navies are known with post 1865 serials above 180,000. Some of these bear the letter -L- stamped under the serial number. Most such guns have New York barrel legends. Swayze's book documents a navy sent to Australia from London that bears the L marking.

When Colt's London venture went belly-up he had the London parts shipped back to Hartford and used them on US produced guns prior to the Civil War. I once owned a Hartford martial navy-navy revolver with a London barrel inspected by a US inspector. Somewhere there is a story behind this US made gun with London barrel legend, martial London proof marks of crown over V, and crown over P, 195,754 serial number and the letter L. The fact that these proofs are British military markings probably indicates sale by Colt to England's War Dept after our Civil War. I also assume the Colt factory still had some London marked barrels on hand as New-Old stock. What better way to use those up?

NRA fine condition. 100% original. 100% complete. Mechanically perfect. This piece retains 50% original factory blue finish. The balance of the metal is subdued plum color. All markings are crisp and all the cylinder scene is intact. Perfect bore.
As with all my items No Reserve. Materials, Packing, and Shipping is $35.00 Insurance is $1.50 per hundred, and $6 FOR UPS SIGNATURE SERVICE. We ship only inside the USA.

Fine ++