Original Item: Only One Available. The Colt Navy Model 1851 Percussion Revolver in .36 caliber was widely used by both sides in the U.S. Civil War. The Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber (i.e., .36 cal), later known as the Colt 1851 Navy or Navy Revolver, is a cap and ball revolver that was designed by Samuel Colt between 1847 and 1850. Colt first called this Revolver Ranger model, but the designation Navy quickly took over. It remained in production until 1873, when revolvers using fixed metallic cartridges came into widespread use.

This lovely lightly patinated service used example features a standard 7 1/2" barrel, and is marked with serial number 164637 on the barrel, frame, grip frame, and trigger guard. The cylinder and barrel wedge are marked with shortened number 4637, while the loading lever is unmarked. The arbor pin however is marked with 546, so it is non-matching, replaced at arsenal. That makes this a very nice "Mostly Matching" example of the M1851 Navy revolver, still retaining most of the original parts. Colt records indicate that this revolver was produced in 1863, right at the height of the Civil War, so it almost certainly saw service during the conflict.

Unlike most Civil War Colt revolvers we see, the cylinder "Naval Engagement Scene" is still present at about 60%, way more than we usually see, and there is still a clear COLTS PATENT № marking present next to the serial number. The top of the barrel still has the Colt "New York" address marking fully intact:

The revolver looks to have seen light to moderate service during the war, and shows a lovely light gray patina in most areas, with some of the original bluing still present in more protected areas. There is a bit of past peppering, but no major oxidation such as pitting present, except possibly on the loading rammer. The plating on the trigger guard and grip is completely missing, with the brass showing a lovely mustard patina. The COLTS PATENT marking is still fully visible on the left side of the frame, though there is no "36CAL" marking on the trigger guard, which is common. The walnut grip on this examples shows a lot of wear, but it is also made from beautiful highly figured BURL WALNUT, which has a high level of chatoyancy, flip flopping in the light. We assume this is an aftermarket grip, but it is possible that it was originally installed, as often the large lots of walnut used by Colt would have some areas of figuring. It does look to have been varnished at some point, which is well retained.

The revolver cycles well, with accurate indexing and strong cylinder lock up. We did not notice any of the finicky behavior we often see on revolvers of this age. The revolver takes down correctly when the barrel wedge is removed, and the barrel to frame connection is rock solid, with no signs of having been adjusted in the past. The bore is in very good condition, showing a bright finish with strong lands and grooves. The "progressive rifling" used when making these revolvers is still clearly visible. There is some light past oxidation and fouling, now cleaned away, as well as a bit of a ring of oxidation about an inch from the forcing cone. Still, it's really a great bore for a service used Civil War revolver. The cap nipples are all intact and clear on the cylinder, showing past oxidation and powder burn on the exterior, which was later cleaned away.

This is a very nice 1851 Navy dating from the Civil War with a lightly worn patina and a great bore, a very nice acquisition for any collection. In wonderful condition and ready to display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1863
Caliber: .36cal
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 7 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 13 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

History of the 1851 Navy Colt Pistol:

The .36 caliber Navy revolver was much lighter than the contemporary Colt Dragoon Revolvers developed from the .44 Walker Colt revolvers of 1847, which, given their size and weight, were generally carried in saddle holsters. It is an enlarged version of the .31 caliber Colt Pocket Percussion Revolvers, that evolved from the earlier Baby Dragoon, and, like them, is a mechanically improved and simplified descendant of the 1836 Paterson revolver. As the factory designation implied, the Navy revolver was suitably sized for carrying in a belt holster. It became very popular in North America at the time of Western expansion. Colt's aggressive promotions distributed the Navy and his other revolvers across Europe, Asia, and Africa. As with many other Colt revolvers, it has a six-round cylinder.

The cylinder of this revolver is engraved with a scene of the victory of the Second Texas Navy at the Battle of Campeche on May 16, 1843. The Texas Navy had purchased the earlier Colt Paterson Revolver, but this was Colt's first major success in the gun trade; the naval theme of the engraved cylinder of the Colt 1851 Navy revolver was Colt's gesture of appreciation. The engraving was provided by Waterman Ormsby. Despite the "Navy" designation, the revolver was chiefly purchased by civilians and military land forces.

The .36 caliber (.375-.380 inch) round lead ball weighs 80 grains and, at a velocity of 1,000 feet per second, is comparable to the modern .380 pistol cartridge in power. Loads consist of loose powder and ball or bullet, metallic foil cartridges (early), and combustible paper cartridges (Civil War era), all combinations being ignited by a fulminate percussion cap applied to the nipples at the rear of the chamber.

Famous "Navy" users included Wild Bill Hickok, John Henry "Doc" Holliday, Richard Francis Burton, Ned Kelly, Bully Hayes, Richard H. Barter, Robert E. Lee, Nathan B. Forrest, John O'Neill, Frank Gardiner, Quantrill's Raiders, John Coffee "Jack" Hays, "Bigfoot" Wallace, Ben McCulloch, Addison Gillespie, John "Rip" Ford, "Sul" Ross and most Texas Rangers prior to the Civil War and (fictionally) Rooster Cogburn. Use continued long after more modern cartridge revolvers were introduced.

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