Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful original Civil War production Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver, manufactured in 1863 at the height of the American Civil War. One of Samuel Colt’s most successful and historically important designs, the Model 1851 Navy became one of the iconic handguns of the 19th century and saw extensive use with soldiers, officers, sailors, lawmen, and civilians.

Officially known by Colt as the “Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber,” the revolver earned its famous “Navy” nickname from the engraved naval battle scene originally found on the cylinder. Designed by Samuel Colt between 1847 and 1850, the .36 caliber Navy offered an ideal combination of size, balance, accuracy, and reliability. Its handling characteristics made it one of the most popular revolvers of the era, remaining in production until 1873 when metallic cartridge revolvers replaced percussion arms.

This example bears serial number 133458, dating manufacture to 1863, placing it directly within the Civil War production period. With demand for Colt revolvers extremely high during the conflict, examples from this period are especially desirable as they represent arms produced when the war effort was at its peak.

The matching serial number is present on the barrel assembly, frame, grip frame, and trigger guard. The cylinder number and roll-engraved naval engagement scene have worn away from use, which is very commonly encountered on Colt Navy revolvers that saw extensive handling and service. The barrel wedge and arbor pin are arsenal replacements and therefore are not numbered, indicating this revolver was maintained and serviced during its long working life.

The top of the 7 1/2" octagonal barrel retains the desirable Colt New York address:

ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA -

The revolver displays a very attractive aged appearance, showing the honest character collectors seek in an original Civil War firearm. The metal surfaces have developed a pleasing light gray patina, with areas of past oxidation peppering and light pitting consistent with age and service use. Period cleaning has brightened some areas and created a softer matte appearance, giving the revolver the unmistakable look of a genuine 160-year-old Colt.

The brass trigger guard and grip frame have lost their original silver plating, as commonly seen on surviving examples, and now display a wonderful untouched mustard-colored patina. The COLTS PATENT marking remains fully visible on the left side of the frame. As often encountered, there is no “36 CAL” marking on the trigger guard.

The walnut grip remains in very good condition and shows the expected wear around the base from handling and carry. It appears to have received an old coat of varnish many years ago, which remains very well preserved and gives the grip an attractive aged appearance.

Mechanically, this Colt Navy remains very strong. The action cycles correctly, with accurate indexing and solid cylinder lockup. It does not display the timing issues or inconsistent behavior often encountered on heavily used percussion revolvers of this age.

The revolver disassembles correctly when the barrel wedge is removed, and the barrel-to-frame fit is extremely solid. The tight fit appears to be the result of proper arsenal servicing performed when the arbor pin was replaced, allowing the revolver to remain mechanically sound after generations of use.

The bore is a particularly nice feature of this example, remaining in very good condition with a bright finish and strong lands and grooves. The Colt progressive rifling, a distinctive feature of these revolvers, is still clearly visible. There is some evidence of light past oxidation and fouling that has since been cleaned away, but overall the bore is excellent for a Civil War era black powder revolver.

The percussion nipples are all intact and clear and appear to have been replaced after the war, another indication that this revolver continued to be cared for and maintained.

Overall, this is a very appealing Civil War production Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver with a wonderful combination of originality, service history, mechanical condition, and display presence. Manufactured in 1863 during the defining years of the American Civil War, this is exactly the type of honest wartime Colt collectors look for: a genuine survivor that shows its history while remaining mechanically sound.

A fantastic addition to any Civil War, Colt, or American firearms collection.

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

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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