(A) EXTREMELY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED WHITNEY NAVY CONVERSION BELLY GUN WITH CARVED IVORY CENTURION

Manufactured around the Civil War as a percussion revolver and later converted to accept centerfire cartridges. The engraved octagon barrel has also been professionally shortened in the period into an easily concealable belly gun configuration, as was popular in the Old West. Frame is engraved with floral punch dot shaded foliate arabesque patterns with line borders, extending down the backstrap onto the butt. Although engraving was available at a cost of $5 on these revolvers, only a handful of examples are known today. This example is also fit with 2-piece ivory grips, the left panel relief carved with a centurion in profile. CONDITION: Fair. Revolver displays a worn gray patina with some cleaned oxidation spots. Grips have a warm honey patina with some areas of darkness and a section of loss at the front left toe. Screw escutcheon on the left side also frontier replaced. Strong, frosted bore. Good mechanics. A very interesting Avenging Angel Whitney with very scarce deluxe special order features. If only this revolver could talk! Barrel Length: 2 - 3/8" Caliber/Bore: .38 CF FFL Status: Antique Manufacturer: Whitney Model: Navy Conversion Serial Number: NSN