3070 EXTREMELY SCARCE ALLEN & WHEELOCK LIP FIRE NAVY

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,000.00 USD
Estimated at 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. Cal. 36. S# 131 (beneath left grip panel). Bbl. 5". One of only approximately 500 Lip Fire Navy revolvers mfg. by Allen & Wheelock during the early 1860s, prior to a copyright infringement case with Smith & Wesson and the revolver's subsequent redesign, which eliminated the Lip Fire cartridge in favor of a percussion action. The left flat of the octagonal bbl. is marked "ALLEN & WHEELOCK. WORCESTER MS. U.S./ ALLEN'S PAT'S.SEPT.7.NOV.9.1858." with the "MS. U.S." at the end of the top line having been poorly struck. Iron construction with 2-piece smooth wood grips. Metal components exhibit a blue finish. Brass blade front sight with frame notched rear sight. All numbers are matching and are present on the frame, cyl. base pin, cyl. loading gate, loading gate release lever, as well as on the interior of the grip panels. CONDITION: metal components retain traces of their original factory blue finish, exhibiting wear and thinning overall that shows through to gray and brown patinas, with some scattered patches of light surface oxidation. Very bright bore, exhibiting areas of dark pitting primarily towards the muzzle, while retaining strong rifling throughout. Action functions and indexes appropriately when cycled by hand. Grips exhibit some scattered handling marks, as well as wear and flaking to their varnish, but otherwise remain sturdy and serviceable. A nice example of a seldom encountered Allen & Wheelock Lip Fire Navy revolver. (01-24365/MLW). ANTIQUE. $2,000-3,000.