Original Item: Only One Available: This is a very nice and interesting LONDON marked Colt Model 1851 Navy percussion .36 caliber revolver, in lovely lightly patinated condition. It has some scattered old pits but otherwise it is a crisp and most attractive revolver. The Naval Battle Cylinder scene is retained at about 40% and the COLTS PATENT marking on the frame is still crisp. The revolver also shows FULLY MATCHING serial # 37940 on the Barrel, Grip, Frame, Cylinder, Loading Rammer, Cylinder Arbor Pin, barrel wedge, and trigger guard. It's very rare to see a revolver of this age without any replaced parts.

The top of the barrel marking on this example is still clear:

Actual production started in 1852 at Colt factory in the Pimlico area of London and stopped at the end of 1856. These had their own serial number sequence, which numbers recorded from approximately 1 to 42,000, though it does look like they did not use all numbers in the sequence. There is some debate over whether all parts were made in the UK, as it is known that early in production some parts from the Hartford plant were used. It seems however that for most of the production all of the parts were made at the London factory, and they are usually separated into different variations based on comparisons to the U.S. version of the Model 1851 Navy. With a serial number between 37500 - 42000, this is a late production 4th Model, made not long before the end of London production. These featured a deeper bullet cutout bevel on the lower left barrel lug, and also lost the "arrows" around the barrel address marking.

The cylinder shows British Proof marks to each chamber, either a Crown over V for "viewed" marking or the Crown over GP "gunmaker's proof" definitive black powder markings from the London Proof House, which alternate around the entire circumference. It also shows Crown over V "viewed" and Crown over P "proof" markings by the barrel wedge.

In very nice shape, the grips look both wonderful and totally original, with great grain and a nice oiled finish from years of use. The metalwork has a lovely dull gray patina from years of repeated cleanings. 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 bore has clear lands and grooves, and a mostly bright finish, showing past overall oxidation and fouling, now removed. All six cap nipple cones are present and clear, but show a good amount of fouling and oxidation, with some having pieces broken off.

The revolver nice and tight and a credit to any Collection. Ready to display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1854
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 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. Total production numbers were exceeded only by the Colt Pocket models in concurrent development, and numbered some 250,000 domestic units and about 22,000 produced in the Colt London Armory.

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.

Rare and seldom encountered, the London Colt revolver was made in very limited production. Quantities total some 42,000 London pieces of all variations. Serial numbers are recorded in the following ranges: 17,000, 24,000 34,000, 37,000, and 39,000. Samuel Colt designated the term "Navy" to imply the caliber (.36) of the weapon, as he did with its later and heavier companion, the Colt Model 1860 Army (.44 caliber).

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