Explain 1851 London Model please.

[Hewy]

I have been looking for question answers ..... who, why, when etc  history of the London model.Was it just 1851 Navies ?
All I can ID  is that the trigger guard is steel not brass.
Hewy

[jaxenro]

Essentially 1851, 1849’s, and I think Dragoon’s. This is a beautiful London 1849

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/57/3330/exceptional-factory-cased-colt-london-model-1849-pocket-revolver

Early London’s had brass trigger guards but brass was considered cheap in England

Interestingly high grade London models usually had figured walnut grips and not ivory

Colt had a great reception at the 1851 exhibition and opened a factory shortly after

[Hawg]

There were some USA made 51's with steel trigger guards.

[ShotgunDave]

The guns made in Sam's London factory are "London Models". They all have London barrel address's. I'm pretty sure that's all that denotes a London Model. They could be had in any configuration, just like U.S. made guns.

[Fingers McGee]

There were 3 basic variations of the London model:

Early Londons that wee made of parts sent to the London factory from Hartford - These had predominantly brass BS/TG, and the London barrel address.
London-Londons that were made of parts manufacture in England  They had predominantly iron BS/TG and the London barrel address.
Hartford Londons wee revolves made in Hartford for export to England. They had a London barrel address with a dash at each end rather than arrows and a mix of brass andiron BS/TG

[Ringo]

Everything you want to know about London models is in Joseph G. Rosa's excellent book "Colonel Colt, London".
If you can't find it, you may then want to read Rosa's much smaller book "COlt revolvers & the Tower of London", which has a 10 page chapter on "Colonel Colt, London".

[Calibre58]

Two points to add.............
The 51 Navy;s made for the Navy had Steel BS and TG.

After the London factory closed, Revolvers made in USA and sent to England had a "L" with the serial number.
Jim

[bigted]

Two points to add.............
The 51 Navy;s made for the Navy had Steel BS and TG.

After the London factory closed, Revolvers made in USA and sent to England had a "L" with the serial number.
Jim

Guess I am missing something on the significance of your pictures here. Nice old looking conversion revolver but what is the initials meaning in your picture?

Just curious is all.

[bigted]

Oh I see. The photo's are in your signiture area ... LOL ... disregard my query.

[Hawg]

Two points to add.............
The 51 Navy;s made for the Navy had Steel BS and TG.

After the London factory closed, Revolvers made in USA and sent to England had a "L" with the serial number.
Jim

I may be wrong but I don't think they made any specifically for the navy. The navy bought most of their guns from open markets.

[Fingers McGee]

'51 Colt Navies by Nathan L. Swayze has a chapter dedicated to London Navies, as well as a chapter on Martial Navies purchased by the Army and Navy ordinance departments.

[Necessaryevil]

Essentially 1851, 1849’s, and I think Dragoon’s. This is a beautiful London 1849

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/57/3330/exceptional-factory-cased-colt-london-model-1849-pocket-revolver

Early London’s had brass trigger guards but brass was considered cheap in England

Interestingly high grade London models usually had figured walnut grips and not ivory

Colt had a great reception at the 1851 exhibition and opened a factory shortly after

WOW !!!!

Beautiful is an understatement, I need a lottery win to start buying guns like that, pieces of history. I find them absolutely fascinating.