1860 colt

[Bo Young]

Pistol has all matching numbers but cylinder doesn't have naval design? Has banner with patent 1850

 

[Seduzal]

Paging @ucvrelics

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

This has been polished at some time in its life, and the cylinder scene, the lightest marking on these guns, has been polished off, but the other wording on the cylinder is still there.
Look at the first photo you posted. The frame surface should be absolutely flat. But you can see some "dishing" at the screw holes - this means they were polished with the screws taken out, and the edges of the metal were rounded downward (making a ring of lower metal around the screw hole, like a "dish" and so called "dishing"
You can see this same rounded edge of the metal of the frame where it meets the wood.
Colt didn't make them this way
But a less than professional polisher will leave those rounded edges, and your Colt shows this....and that's where the Naval Battle cylinder scene disappeared to - the polishing wheel of a fellow who thought he would clean up this old timer a bit.

 

[bayonet]

This has been polished at some time in its life, and the cylinder scene, the lightest marking on these guns, has been polished off, but the other wording on the cylinder is still there.
Look at the first photo you posted. The frame surface should be absolutely flat. But you can see some "dishing" at the screw holes - this means they were polished with the screws taken out, and the edges of the metal were rounded downward (making a ring of lower metal around the screw hole, like a "dish" and so called "dishing"
You can see this same rounded edge of the metal of the frame where it meets the wood.
Colt didn't make them this way
But a less than professional polisher will leave those rounded edges, and your Colt shows this....and that's where the Naval Battle cylinder scene disappeared to - the polishing wheel of a fellow who thought he would clean up this old timer a bit.

Shame they do that. Long time ago my Father had an old musket professionally blued. I know not the reason why since original issue was bright steel. Well when I inherited it I stripped it down, barrel and lock plate into the tub, and Drano removed all the bluing!

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Shame they do that. Long time ago my Father had an old musket professionally blued. I know not the reason why since original issue was bright steel. Well when I inherited it I stripped it down, barrel and lock plate into the tub, and Drano removed all the bluing!

And it probably cleaned the bathtub drain

 

[rob63]

I remember when I first started collecting, I just didn't understand how the old timers could tell a re-blued gun from one in great shape. Then one day it just clicked for some reason, and it has been something that I can tell at a glance ever since then. I assume it came from having looked at enough guns to become familiar with what the markings and edges normally look like. If I have any one piece of advice for new collectors, it would be to simply go to shows and look at a lot of guns before you start putting down money. Once you can walk through a show and can easily identify which guns have been messed with, that is when you are ready. Also, as others always say, but a lot of books.

 

[Bo Young]

I remember when I first started collecting, I just didn't understand how the old timers could tell a re-blued gun from one in great shape. Then one day it just clicked for some reason, and it has been something that I can tell at a glance ever since then. I assume it came from having looked at enough guns to become familiar with what the markings and edges normally look like. If I have any one piece of advice for new collectors, it would be to simply go to shows and look at a lot of guns before you start putting down money. Once you can walk through a show and can easily identify which guns have been messed with, that is when you are ready. Also, as others always say, but a lot of books.

I have owned the pistol for over 40 years.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

???????