Guns International #: 102593001
Seller's Inventory #: 233065

Category - Colt Revolvers - Navy - Colt Revolvers - Antique

Category
Colt Revolvers - Navy
Colt Revolvers - Antique

Antique COLT Model 1851 NAVY-NAVY 38 LONG COLT Conversion Revolver 1856 USN “SONS OF SUDDEN DEATH SOCIETY”

Description:
Antique COLT Model 1851 NAVY-NAVY 38 LONG COLT Conversion Revolver 1856 USN

“SONS OF SUDDEN DEATH SOCIETY”

Here we present an antique Naval Inspected U.S. Colt Model 1851 Navy Conversion Revolver, made five years prior to the start of the American Civil War in 1856 in Hartford, Connecticut, and includes a leather flap holster. This revolver was converted to .38 Long Colt for the Navy in the mid-1870s. The 1851 Navy was one of Colt’s most famous and successful lines, reaching a production total of 257,348 from 1850 to 1873 (right up to the time of SAA production) from both Hartford and London factories. From Hartford alone, 185,000 were made by the end of the American Civil War. Many of these saw service during the conflict on both sides. There were some military purchases and lots of private purchases by soldiers going off to war.

This revolver has “R.W.M.” with the “ANCHOR” marked on the bottom of the barrel. The “R.W.M.” is for U.S. Navy Commander Richard W. Meade, an active Naval Commander during the American Civil War. The bottom of the butt is marked “U.S.N. / J.L.H.” for James L. Henderson of the U.S. Navy, also active in the Civil War. There is also a cartouche on both sides of the grip.

This one comes with a leather field holster with handwriting all over it: the flap exterior reads “EL DORADO JOHNNY PRESIDENT OF THE SUDDEN DEATH SOCIETY X”. The trademark just below the flap on the body of the holster is a horseshoe with an anvil and blacksmith’s arm and hammer. Along the lower seam above the stitching is “1915-CAMP CHIEF OURAY-1915”, down near the muzzle is “FALL RIVER – 16”, higher up is “JACKSON CREEK – 16”, and “DEVILS HEAD – 16”, and “WIDOWMAKER – 16”, “HORSESHOE PARK – 16”, “LAWN LAKE – 16”, “ESTES PARK – 16”, “BENDEMERE” (we think this is a variation on “Bendemeer”, which is a valley in Colorado), “TURKSHEAD – 1914”, “BIG THOMPSON – 16”, “BLUEBIRD – 1915”, “GLASIER LAKE” (a variation on “Glacier Lake”), “ST. VRAIN – 16”, and others which are not entirely legible. The name “MILES RADE” and “DENVER” are inscribed at the top of the holster body normally covered by the flap and “MILES” is also found at the top-rear of the flap. In our estimation, this Colt Navy was made prior to the American Civil War for the USN, was used through the war, was updated in the post-war period, then carried by a man by the name of Miles Rade of Denver as a sidearm through all kinds of backcountry trips, jobs, or projects to some notable, even now iconic spots in Colorado during the 1914-1916 period. Some of these places are now quite settled and residential, though over 100 years ago, they would have been quite remote and wild. As an example, Estes Park was established in 1859 by Missourian Joel Estes and one early visitor described it in 1864 as pristine wilderness. Land was still being homesteaded in the area as of 1914. Estes’ original ranch became a “dude ranch” and the area became an attraction for those wanting to visit the wilds of Western America, explorers and naturalists from the US and Europe.

The overall condition is fine. Original blue and case color finish. The cylinder scene is clear and intact. The Numbers match. The action is excellent and the bore is shiny bright with sharp rifling. The grip is in very good condition with two visible inspector cartouches. The hand-tooled leather holster is in nice shape for the age and about 90% or more of the markings are legible.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 7-1/2 inches.

Caliber: .38 Long Colt

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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ancestryguns

$5200

#233065
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes