Original Item: Only One Available. The expiration of Rollin White's patent on revolvers with bored through cylinders in 1869 was a true watershed moment for the U.S. Firearms industry. Now all firearms manufactures would be able to directly manufacture cartridge revolvers without having to risk lawsuits or pay royalties. Colt was no exception, especially considering that Samuel Colt himself had PASSED on the chance to purchase exclusive rights to the patent in the 1850s.

Colt was however still somewhat committed to percussion revolvers, so it wasn't until 1873 that their first purpose-made cartridge revolver, the Single Action Army, was introduced. That did not mean however that this was their only effort, as there was also a fairly large market producing parts and materials for converting percussion revolvers to take rimfire and centerfire cartridges. For designs such as the Remington "New Model" Revolver, this was relatively simple, as the cylinder could be swapped out easily with one that took cartridges. Some would use a back plate, while others would modify the hammer slightly.

Colt revolvers however did not have a solid frame that allowed easy removal of the cylinder, so they required more involved conversions. There were private companies that made conversion kits to supply gunsmiths, and companies that did all work in house as well. Colt also made the decision circa 1873-1874 to use left over parts from percussion revolvers to make some early rimfire cartridge revolvers. They also may have converted revolvers left over in stock, and definitely allowed customers and retailers to send back revolvers for the conversion.

This is one such example, which unlike others we have seen looks to have used leftover parts from the Colt Navy Model 1851 Percussion Revolver in .36 caliber. It bears a very low serial number 164, which is almost certainly not part of the Model 1851 serial sequence, and was instead added to parts used to make this factory converted revolver. It looks to have been made mostly from modified parts, not utilizing any purpose built parts like some later examples.

Colt had originally developed the .38 "Short" Colt cartridge specifically for converting Model 1851 Navy revolvers like this example. During the early conversions, parts such as the grip, grip frame, and trigger guard were left alone, while the frame, trigger, and cylinder required modification. The recoil shield on the right side was machined out and a spacer installed in front. This allowed the cylinder to be loaded from the rear, and extensions were added to the hammer to contact the cartridge rims. The rear of the cylinder was machined away, leaving the ratchet but completely removing the cap bolsters. In this case the cylinder would also need to have the chambers slightly enlarged for the .38 cal cartridges.

This example is in very nice patinated condition, looking to have seen long service, probably out on the western frontier. It has serial number 164 on the barrel, frame, grip, and trigger guard. The address marking on the top of the cylinder is almost completely worn away, with only remnants such as "COL" still visible. We also cannot see any markings on the cylinder, and the barrel wedge is stuck tight, so we were not able to check the arbor pin or other components for numbers. The cylinder has had the original "Stagecoach Holdup" scene completely removed from the exterior, along with the "PATENT" marking. The COLTS / PATENT markings on the left side of the frame is still faintly visible, and the 36CAL marking on the left side of the trigger guard is present as well.

Condition wise, the revolver has had significant oxidation and later cleaning on the iron / steel portions of the revolver. The ejector housing looks to be made from a different type of steel, and while oxidized, does not show the same amount of pitting. The trigger guard and grip frame, made from nickel plated brass, has held up a lot better, though there is a crack on the rear upper left around the retaining screw.

Functionally, the revolver cycles well, though it does not quite advance far enough for the cylinder to align. Pulling back the hammer fast can also cause it to overshoot. It definitely looks to have seen a lot of use during its service life. We checked the bore, and we can still see clear rifling, but there is also past wear and oxidation present.

A very nice patinated example of an early Colt Factory Cartridge Converted Revolver with some good research potential, ready to add to your collection and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1870 - converted later
Caliber: .38 "Short" Colt
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge.
Barrel Length: 5 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 11 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 5 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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