A Cased London Navy Colt Revolver, 13 ½” overall, 7 ½" octagonal barrel with bead foresight & address 'Col Colt London' between arrows, London proof marks, naval cylinder scene with London proofs, frame stamped on left hand side 'Colts patent'. Small iron trigger guard & backstrap, all parts numbered 319181 including wedge. Varnished walnut grips. In its original oak dark blue velvet lined London case, containing a large Bartram & Co powder flask, oil bottle, cleaning rod, Colts patent brass bullet mould, turnscrew, Eley 250 cap for Colt cap tin and key. Lid with Colt Loading instructions label, round brass case escutcheon engraved ‘Rob W Sparks Esq’.
31918 for 1855
Pistol in good condition, crisp action, no original finish. Walnut grips fine. Case and accessories good condition. With extensive file of over 70 pages of research
Robert Watson Sparks 7th Foot Ensign 10 March 1855 Lieutenant 5th August 1855
Captain 30 July1862, Major 22 May 1876, L.Colonel 3 Dec 1880
The 7th Foot Royal Fusiliers embarked for Scutari for service in the Crimean War on 5 April 1854 (with the Depot at Winchester), and saw action at the Battle of Alma in September 1854, the Battle of Inkerman in November 1854 and the Siege of Sebastopol in winter 1854. It returned to Britain from the Crimea on 27 June 1856, embarked for India on 21 July 1857, and took part in the Ambela Campaign in 1863. In 1865 it was at Ferozepore. It returned to Britain from India on the 27 December 1870. It embarked for Gibraltar in 1885, and in 1886 and 1887 was at Egypt. From 1888 'til 1901, it was posted to various locations in India, including Poona, Karachi (now in Pakistan), Mhow, Nusseerabad, Bombay, Quetta, Bengal, Neemuch, and Nusserabad.