{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-era-gustave-young-engraved-colt-model-1851-navy-36cal-percussion-revolver-made-in-1866-serial-198428","title":"Original U.S. Civil War Era Gustave Young Engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy .36cal Percussion Revolver Made in 1866 - Serial 198428","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items: One of a Kind. Gustave Young is generally considered to be the best Master Arms Engraver operating in the United States during the 1800s. Born in Germany during 1827, Young came to the United States in the 1846, and would become Colt’s primary engraving contractor from 1852 into the mid 1860's. During this time he would mentor the then-apprentice Conrad Ulrich, leave Colt, and return to run his own shop full-time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the late 1860s, he then moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he began taking in work primarily from Smith \u0026amp; Wesson, while also continuing to service many of his previous clients. There are examples of Gustave Young’s hand on Colts, Smith \u0026amp; Wessons, Sharps, Bullards, Peabody and Martinis, and even some Winchesters. He practiced his craft until his death in 1895, and was succeeded by his sons Eugene and Oscar, who would continue his work with Smith \u0026amp; Wesson until 1913.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a lovely well-used Colt Navy Model 1851 Percussion Revolver in .36 caliber, which was engraved by Gustave Young, most likely at his private shop and not at the factory. This is only the third time we have had an example of one of these works of art, which are all truly one of a kind. It is decorated with his distinctive Germanic scrollwork, showing off his European training. As is correct for his work, the backgrounds between designs are the \"punch dot\" style, and there are great foliate motifs throughout. The hammer has been engraved to look like a \u003cstrong\u003eWolf's Head\u003c\/strong\u003e on both sides, a distinctive aspect of his style. We have compared the engraving to two examples we have, and other examples on the internet, and the hammers are definitely engraved in the distinctive style. Please examine the high resolution photos of the revolver, as words really cannot fully describe the engraving or condition of the revolver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to the engraving, the revolver also has been fitted with a fantastic ivory grip, which has matured wonderfully! It has a great color and grain, with beautiful age cracks, only achieved by long use and age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally called the Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber (i.e., .36 cal), it was later known as the Colt 1851 Navy or Navy Revolver, and is a cap and ball revolver that was designed by Samuel Colt between 1847 and 1850. Widely used by both sides in the U.S. Civil War, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis lovely frontier-used Young-engraved example features a standard 7 1\/2\" barrel, and is marked with serial number \u003cstrong\u003e198428\u003c\/strong\u003e on the barrel, frame, and trigger guard, with shortened number \u003cstrong\u003e8428\u003c\/strong\u003e on the cylinder and arbor pin (partial). The barrel wedge is an unmarked replacement, and the grip frame is marked with \u003cstrong\u003e198192\u003c\/strong\u003e. Colt records indicate that this revolver was produced in \u003cstrong\u003e1866\u003c\/strong\u003e, right after the U.S. Civil War concluded, with plenty of time to be used in the Indian Wars or on the Frontier. This is probably too late for a Gustave Young factory engraved revolver, but right in period for a revolver privately engraved by him. The grip frame being swapped is a bit interesting, but it is right from the same period, and the engraving style is an exact match, so it may have been swapped before it was engraved. This is definitely a revolver with a long and interesting history!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe previous two Gustave Young engraved Colt revolvers we had the original cylinder scenes present, however this revolver had the cylinder fully engraved as well. We can still see much of the scrollwork, though the cylinder definitely has been worn by use, powder burn, and cleaning. The top of the barrel still has the Colt address marking fully intact, though it is a bit faint:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA -\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver looks to have seen moderate to heavy use during its service life, and definitely was exposed to the elements for a good amount of time. We do not usually see engraved revolvers with this sort of use, as they were considered showpieces, but this one definitely was. There is past pitting over much of the surface, which was later cleaned away. The plating on the trigger guard and grip frame is completely removed. We can still faintly see the original stamped \u003cstrong\u003eCOLTS PATENT\u003c\/strong\u003e marking on the left side of the frame, and the trigger guard is marked on the left side with \u003cstrong\u003e36CAL\u003c\/strong\u003e, which we do not often see. These markings would usually be absent from a factory engraved revolver, indicating that it was engraved post manufacture. The ivory grip is fantastic, showing a lovely color with use and age-related stress cracking. We can see the striations and grain that make these old grips so beautiful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver cycles well with accurate indexing, however the cylinder lock is worn and\/or non-functional, so the cylinder can be turned clockwise even at full cock. The barrel to frame connection is solid, looking to have been adjusted in the past, however the left side pin at the bottom of the frame connection is broken off. The bore is in very good condition, showing strong land and grooves, with some past oxidation and fouling overall, now cleaned away. The \"progressive rifling\" is easily visible, though there is definitely some past pitting closer to the forcing cone. Still this is definitely well above average for a black powder era percussion revolver, which often have bores like stove pipes. It's very rare to see such a good bore on a percussion revolver from the Civil War, which are often like stove pipes. The cap nipple cones are all intact and clear on the cylinder, showing wear and oxidation on the exterior, and look to have been replaced at some point in period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a great collector's opportunity the likes of which we do not have very often at all. Gustave Young was extremely well-regarded during his life, and after passing away his reputation has only grown. Even with the wear from long use, it still is quite the showpiece, and ready to be the centerpiece of any percussion revolver collection!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1866\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .36cal\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Cap and Ball\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 7 1\/2 inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 13 inches\u003cbr\u003eAction: Single Action\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 6 Shot Revolver\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistory of the 1851 Navy Colt Pistol:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe .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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe .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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFamous \"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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43594766450757,"sku":"ONAC25205","price":4495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONAC25205MAIN.jpg?v=1758136128","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-era-gustave-young-engraved-colt-model-1851-navy-36cal-percussion-revolver-made-in-1866-serial-198428","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}