The server has not detected any activity for the last 3 hours.
For your security, your session will expire in 2 minutes and you will be redirected to the Sign In page.
Would you like to stay signed in?
Guns International #: 102363630
|
Click Photo to Enlarge |
Guns International #: 102363630
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct,
please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
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
Active Listings: 0
Total Listings: 599
Seller Type: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.
Payment Methods:
Money Order, Certified Check
California Gold Rush Dug-Up Colt 1851 Navy Revolver Made in 1852 in Semi-Relic Condition, Working!
Description: Remarkable early 3rd Model Colt 1851 Navy Pistol dup up from a Northern California mining town found some years ago. It was found with 4 copper percussion caps on the cylinder cones and still had its original wooden grips almost completely intact. This is a true California Gold Rush Colt Navy and I'm sure it would have quite a story to tell if it could talk but the surfaces of this gun do a fair bit of talking on its behalf. The serial number is in the 15,000 range which dates it to the year 1852 which puts it right in the middle of the California Gold Rush era.Gold Miners, lawmen, and outlaws were quite fond of Sam Colt invention. As the saying goes, God created man, Sam Colt made them equal. It seems that after this one was emptied, it was dropped or discarded and left to the elements for over 100 years. Fortunately, the West is a lot more kind to old iron than back East where the ground and the climate consume any kind of ferrous metal or organic material like wood at a faster pace. That said, you will look for a long time before you ever find a dug up gun that still has its original wood like this one. I've attended a lot of Civil War shows when they unearth a musket or a pistol...it's basically almost down to a chunk of solid rust most of the time. You never see an intact relic like this one with the original grips. You can see where it was either on or in the ground for a very long time by the open grain and a few worm or termite holes at the base. We got this from a gentleman from California in 2018 and at that time, the action was completely frozen but it didn't look like it was too far gone from mechanically functioning once again so we gave it to our gunsmith to see what he could do. His efforts proved to be successful. Though not inexpensive to bring back to life, the action now cycles so it cocks, indexes, and the trigger works. When we got it back, he handed me a plastic back of all the stuff that come from inside the action when he cleaned it out. A few of the screws had to be replaced and it was missing the original wedge...which he was able to replace with an original one that matches up pretty well. The steel parts have quite a bit of light to moderate pitting but surprisingly, the Colt Barrel Address is intact and you can read all the serial numbers...even the cylinder still has traces of original scene. COLT'S PATENT is still clearly visible on the left side of the frame. The brass gripstraps survived just fine and if there was ever a testament to just how good Sam Colt's silver plating was back in the 1850's, remember this gun. This dug up 1851 HAS OVER HALF THE ORIGINAL SILVER PLATING on the trigger guard and back strap. Just amazing? You can pick up a Colt from the post Civil War era that's almost in mint condition and has never been fired and there will be little to no signs of silver plating remaining. I doubt the silver on late Colts was more than a couple atoms thick but in the 1850's, Colt plated their trigger guards and backstraps to survive the apocolypse...and here is the proof! If you're looking for a conversation piece or something to put under the glass of your coffee table or that shadow box on the wall, I promise you...this will get people talking! You can spend hours and hours looking at a relic like this...more so than one in fine condition. It doesnt speak so much in words as it does with its appearance. The good thing is that someone found it before it was too far gone. It's really to find one like this with original wood, silver, and the markings intact. Antique, Pre-1898. No FFL Required under Federal Law. No sales to DC, Chicago, or NYC. 30.00 shipping. SOLD Manufacturer: Colt Model: 1851 |
Guns International #: 102363630
Guns International #: 102363630