Original item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used condition example of a Colt Navy percussion revolver, manufactured in 1862. The 1861 Navy Revolvers have always been hard to find, being much overshadowed by the famous Colt 1851 Navy Model. The 1851 had a 36 caliber Octagonal barrel, and many thousands saw service in the Civil War. The 1861 Navy Model was also in 36 caliber but the barrel was modeled after the 1860 Colt Army model, being totally round. Easier and more economical to produce, the 1861 was designed to replace the model 1851, and should have been a great success. However the 1851 model was so well established that production continued long after the Civil War had ended.

Our example has a Serial Number of 7877, indicating manufacture in 1862, early in the Civil War, so it was almost certainly used during the conflict. It bears the same serial number on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and grip frame, however the serial number on the cylinder is completely worn away. The cylinder arbor pin is marked with shortened number 877, and the barrel wedge is a recent replacement. It is in the expected .36 caliber and shows a lovely aged dark patina on the exterior, looking to have seen extensive service and cleaning. However the revolver is totally original and shows no signs of refinishing or other modifications.

Top of the barrel still has the original Colt markings partly visible, with some worn areas hard to read:

The COLT'S PATENT marking on the left side of the frame is mostly clear, however the trigger guard des not have a "36CAL" stamping, which is relatively common. The cylinder has been worn down and cleaned extensively, so all of the original markings on the sides have been removed. The original walnut grip is quite worn and rounded at the edges, now showing a dark stained color. There are no major cracks or chunks missing.

The pistol is complete, and actually functions well, with a firm cylinder lockup. It does however sometimes fail to advance far enough when cycling, and can be finicky. The barrel to frame connection does wobble a bit, as the replacement wedge is a bit loose, or maybe the slot is worn. The revolver still breaks down properly with removal of the barrel wedge, and the barrel frame connection is rock solid. The bore is in very good condition, showing clear lands and grooves with a mostly bright finish. The "progressive rifling" is still easily discernable, and there are just a few areas of more serious oxidation visible. Definitely a fantastic example of a black powder percussion revolver bore! The revolver looks to have been carried extensively, but did not see a large amount of firing. All 6 cap nipple cones are present and clear, showing wear and oxidation from use, and half have had parts crack away from hammer strikes.

To make this offering even better, it came to us with a fantastic custom wood case, which measures approximately 15 1/8" x 7" x 2", and has different compartments inside, all red plush fabric lined. These are for various accessories one might use with the pistol, and in the case is a very nice COLTS PATENT marked bullet mold for round and conical bullets with a built in nipper to take off the casting stem, as well as an example of each type of bullet. There is a lovely worn bronze powder flask, which is dented and missing the nozzle, and there is also a lovely tin of percussion caps. The case is lovely, and at one time had a lock at the front, however it has been disabled.

A very nice genuine service used example of the rare Colt 1861 Navy Revolver with a very nice bore, complete with a custom wood case and some great accessories! Ready to add to your Civil War Collection display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1862
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 Colt 1861 Navy

The Colt Model 1861 Navy cap & ball .36-caliber revolver was a six-shot, single-action percussion weapon produced by Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1861 until 1873. It incorporated the "creeping" or ratchet loading lever and round barrel of the .44-caliber Army Model of 1860 but had a barrel one half inch shorter, at 7.5 inches. Total production was 38,000 revolvers.

Like its forerunner, the Colt 1851 Navy Revolver, it saw widespread use in the American Civil War and on the American Western frontier, though far fewer were produced. It has the same general specification as the earlier model, but with a rounded barrel and somewhat different rammer. While similar in design to the Colt Army Model 1860, the lighter recoil of the 1861 Navy's .36 caliber was preferred by some cavalry soldiers.

There were few variations of the Model 1861 Navy Colt. Approximately 100 of the first guns made had fluted cylinders with no cylinder scene. Another 100, made between the serial ranges of 11,000 and 14,000 were cut for a shoulder stock — the lower portion of the recoil shield was milled away and a fourth screw for the stock was added to the frame. With the exception of the first fifty or so of this model, all guns had a capping groove. A brass trigger guard and back strap, silver-plated, were standard.

During the Civil War its main competitor in England was the Adams self-cocking revolver. The Adams fired a .49 caliber bullet and did not require the shooter to pull the hammer back. Colt's revolver was more popular because Colt mass-produced his weapons while Adams' products were handmade by skilled artisans. In the United States, Colt's main rival was the Remington Model 1858 revolver.

The Colt 1861 Navy typically was used with paper cartridges, that is, with a cartridge consisting of nitrated paper, a pre-measured black powder charge, and a bullet that was either a lead round ball or a lead conical bullet. The nitrated paper of the cartridge was completely consumed upon use, and the use of paper cartridges enabled faster re-loading. Alternatively, it was always possible to load with measured powder charges and lead round balls.

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