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 example features a standard 7 1/2" barrel is marked with serial number 140902 on the barrel, frame, grip frame, and trigger guard. The cylinder arbor pin and barrel wedge are marked with shortened number 40902, while the cylinder and loading rammer are marked with 0902. That makes this a very desirable "ALL MATCHING" example of the M1851 Navy revolver, without any major parts swapped out over the years! 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 about 40% present, and the COLTS PATENT No marking is still present as well. The top of the barrel still has the Colt "New York" address marking fully intact:

The revolver looks to have seen moderate service during the war, and displays a lovely oxidized patina of age, with no signs of having been refinished. The plating on the trigger guard and grip are completely missing, with the brass showing a lovely mustard patina. The COLTS PATENT marking is still faintly visible on the left side of the frame. The trigger guard has the correct 36CAL stamping on the left side. The walnut grip is in lovely condition, looking to have been refinished at some point, and showing very little damage aside from the usual wear from service. The bottom of the grip strap has been personalized with the initials M. B., though we do not know if this was done during the war or after.

The revolver cycles well, with accurate indexing and a solid cylinder lockup. It does not have any of the usual finicky behavior we often see revolvers of this age exhibit. The barrel to frame connection is solid and shows no signs of adjustment. The bore is in very good condition, showing strong land and grooves, with light oxidation and fouling present in areas. It's very rare to see such a good bore on a percussion revolver from the Civil War. The cap nipples are all intact and clear on the cylinder, and look to possibly have been replaced at some point, as they are in very good shape.

This is a very nice 1851 Navy dating from the Civil War with a very nice bore and a lovely gently worn patina, 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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