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Colt Model 1851 Navy .36 Percussion Revolver
Guns International #: 100658854 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Colt Revolvers - Antique Percussion - Antique Revolvers - Percussion
Seller's Information
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Seller: Brent Wilburn
Company: Antique Arms, Inc.
Member Since: 11/19/15
First Name: Brent
Last Name: Wilburn
State: Georgia
Zip: 30052
Country: United States
Phone: (678) 471-1432
Phone2: (678) 471-1432
Premium Seller
Number of Active Listings: 36
Total Number of Listings: 580
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Money Order, Certified Check
Description:
Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver in .36 Caliber. Late 4th Model with the large brass trigger guard, standard 7 1/2" Octagon Barrel, 6 shot cylinder and New York Address. Serial Number is in the 213,000 and was built in 1871 which was the year Smith and Wesson's Rollin White Patent for cartridge revolvers finally expired. With the green light for manufacturers to produce cartridge revolvers, the older percussion models became extinct virtually overnight. Colt only built 5300 1851's from 1870-73 and sales were very slow due to the fact that the market was flooded with military surplus for years following the American Civil War. That said, most of these late percussion Navies never left the factory until after they were converted to cartridge revolvers following the expiration of S&W's patent. This is one was in the last couple thousand built and one of the few we've seen still in its original percussion configuration. That said, while this Navy came too late to see the California Gold Rush of the 1850's or Civil War, it is a Frontier Era Colt and one of the last built during the percussion era.
Configuration is spot on for what want to find on a late 4th model percussion Navy. There are a few minor variations on these late ones that are not found on earlier examples. For starters, the late style hammer checkering is in small rectangular shaped border instead of the earlier cross-hatching with no border. Left side of the trigger guard is marked "36 CAL" with the usual COLT'S PATENT on left side of the frame. Barrel has a nice New York Barrel Address which is correct. Serial numbers are all matching which includes the frame, barrel, cylinder, arbor pin, trigger guard, and back strap. Notice that I did not mention the barrel wedge or the loading lever. Shouldn't they be numbered and matching too? The answer is NO, not on a Colt Model 1851 Navy or 1849 Pocket this late in production. Towards the end of the Civil War, Colt stopped numbering their wedges and loading levers. So on this one which was made in 1871, it is 100% correct, original, kosher, and proper to have a blank wedge and loading lever. What I like about this one is that there is still traces of original blue and case colors respectively which serve as proof that they never had a number applied. See Photos.
Overall Condition Grades to NRA Antique Very Good+ with a bit of original finish, strong cylinder, scene, excellent mechanics/bore, and all matching numbers. This Colt does not show a great deal of hard use as the edges and markings are quite strong. However, it appears that it was kept in a leather holster for some length of time which was good and bad. The good is that there is still some original finish remaining while the bad was that the metal is a little frosty on the high spots of the cylinder. Finish-Wise, there is still some original blue remaining on the barrel. On the upper 5 flats of the octagon barrel, it is mostly traces in the form of small streaks with a bit around the front sight. There is about 60% original blue on the left lug due to the protection offered by the barrel wedge and 10% on the right lug. The bottom 3 flats retain 60% original blue where the holster couldn't rub it off. There is still significant blue on the rear cone of the barrel and along the face of the loading cutout on the right side. The balance is mostly a gray to light brown patina. The frame has mostly turned to a gray/brown patina with a bit of clean-up around the action screws on right side where there was some corrosion. Left side of the frame is quite nice with some faded traces of original case colors in the patina. The screws are all original and in good serviceable condition. Trigger still shows some good traces of original fire blue. Cylinder has 85% original roll engraved Naval Battle Scene with some light pinprick corrosion from resting against the leather. Safety pins on the lugs between the cones/nipples are mashed down from being carried loaded and spun. If you were carrying this revolver around back in the 1870's and wanted to have all six cylinders loaded, you'd rest the hammer on the lug between the nipples. On each lug was a small iron pin which would fit inside the small notch in the face of the hammer to keep it from slipping onto a live chamber. Typical of late production percussion Colts, the silver plating on the brass gripstraps is long gone. I've seen nearly mint examples from this era with little to no silver as well which suggests that Colt plating which was once been quite good back in the 1850's was probably no more than a couple atoms thick after the Civil War. Grips are in Very Good condition with traces of original varnish. Never sanded or cleaned. No cracks or repairs. Mechanics are excellent. Cylinder indexes properly and locks in place. There barrel wedge is tight with no play or wobble between the barrel and the frame. The bore is Excellent which is still bright and shiny with strong lands and grooves. All in all, this Navy is above average and really kind of scarce to find one this late still in original percussion.
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Colt
Model: 1851
Caliber Info: 36
Chambers: 6
Condition: NRA Antique Very Good
Barrels: 7.5
Barrel Type: Octagon
Action: Single
Finish: Blued/Case Colored/Silver Plated
Sights: Standard