Handguns Colt 1851 Navy Interesting Feature

[Johnny Shafto]

Two images of a Colt 1851 Navy. Take a look at the markings on the butt and strap. It appears it's service included substituting as a hammer for someone without a more suitable option for pounding purposes and with no time or inclination to seek out a better alternative. So who does this? Can we assume the owner, or someone who borrowed it without the owner's knowing? Can we also assume that anyone treating this fine revolver in such a manner has minimal concern for its uniqueness? I offer these images and musings for your edification and imagination. What say you? And what, given a closer examination of the scaring, might have this lover of fine firearms been hammering on?

 

[bayonet]

Sir, are you aware that to load a new cylinder you had to knock out the wedge to do it? If they had 2 pistols which a good Cavalry trooper did that he would hit the wedge with the bottom of the butt from the other gun. That could be the reason for all those marks on the bottom of the butt. Once the wedge was knocked out, you slid off the barrel, pulled out the cylinder, slipped on a new loaded cylinder, placed the barrel back on, then whacked the wedge back in place. Try that on a Horse or under fire!

 

[bayonet]

Oh plus it gives it character and shows more than likely it saw a fair amount of action!

 

[Miker91]

The person should be prosecuted for attempted murder of a fine handgun. I would guess he was hitting his head. Regardless the gun is beautiful.

 

[UCVRelics]

Two images of a Colt 1851 Navy. Take a look at the markings on the butt and strap. It appears it's service included substituting as a hammer for someone without a more suitable option for pounding purposes and with no time or inclination to seek out a better alternative. So who does this? Can we assume the owner, or someone who borrowed it without the owner's knowing? Can we also assume that anyone treating this fine revolver in such a manner has minimal concern for its uniqueness? In other words there are more where this came from. I offer these images and musings for your edification and imagination. What say you? And what, given a closer examination of the scaring, might have this lover of fine firearms been hammering on?

View attachment 426657

Its is a shame and with the patina inside the marks on the brass it was done a long time age and you have to remember that back then its was just what it was a tool and not a collectors item. On the marks they were not made by the wedge as they a circular and in the center of the back strap and there is no way to get to the wedge at that angle and the wedge is flat with square edges. Once the wedge screw was removed the wedge could be pushed out with your thumb. Plus the story of the cylinder swapping is a wives tale.

 

[Johnny Shafto]

I love the nuance. Adds personality. Thank you Miker91 for your kind comment. In response to "bayonet"…Yes I am aware how the cylinder is removed and have done so numerous times. But thank you Sir for your input. A close inspection of the shape of many of the marks would lead me to question if wedge removal was entirely responsible. And although I have spent a considerable amount of time on horseback I will pass on your invitation to attempt such a maneuver under live fire. I agree that such markings may indicate it saw a "fair amount of action. So interesting. Here's a closer look at the cylinder which may provide sharper eyes than mine with additional clues…If anyone would like additional photos I will be more than happy to comply.

 

[John Winn]

Obviously, the sheriff used it to nail up wanted posters.

 

[UCVRelics]

Being it was made in 1862 it did see a lot of CW service and I'm sure used hard after that.

 

[bayonet]

Can't get any of my wedges out unless you give them a good whack with something. Except one but I believe that is easier due to wear and tear over the years. I've also seen these marks on other pistols over the years but they weren't made from skull imprints

 

[bayonet]

Its is a shame and with the patina inside the marks on the brass it was done a long time age and you have to remember that back then its was just what it was a tool and not a collectors item. On the marks they were not made by the wedge as they a circular and in the center of the back strap and there is no way to get to the wedge at that angle and the wedge is flat with square edges. Once the wedge screw was removed the wedge could be pushed out with your thumb. Plus the story of the cylinder swapping is a wives tale.

Wait are you saying that when Clint Eastwood did it at the ending of the movie PALE RIDER that it's a "wives tale"? NO PLEASE NOT THE LEGEND CLINT he's the hero of my generation!

 

[Joe Whitworth]

Used to drive thumb tacks, not nails. How about a picture of what appears to be an unusual front sight.

 

[Johnny Shafto]

Used to drive thumb tacks, not nails. How about a picture of what appears to be an unusual front sight.

Interesting you should mention this. I noticed this too. The sight actually has markings. And the way it is attached seems odd to this novice. Give me a chance to take and post a few more pictures. Then maybe we can get Lanyard Puller to weigh in too. Fingers crossed.

 

[Booner]

I agree with everything that ucvrelics said, especially that it looks like whatever they were using the pistol to hammer with had a round head. When did nails get changed from square heads to the modern day round heads?
I just did a google search on the history of metal nails, and it's very possible that the pistol was used to hammer a "Type A or B cut nail."

 

[Johnny Shafto]

I agree with everything that ucvrelics said, especially that it looks like whatever they were using the pistol to hammer with had a round head. When did nails get changed from square heads to the modern day round heads?
I just did a google search on the history of metal nails, and it's very possible that the pistol was used to hammer a "Type A or B cut nail." View attachment 426671

Fine detective work Boomer. But one would think that if used to actually hammer nails the wood handle would be severely damaged. It's almost as if it was more of a modest tapping rather than full blown hammer shots. I can't tell if the wood has been "touched up". I wonder if the scaring was done during one episode or over a longer period of time.

Its is a shame and with the patina inside the marks on the brass it was done a long time age and you have to remember that back then its was just what it was a tool and not a collectors item. On the marks they were not made by the wedge as they a circular and in the center of the back strap and there is no way to get to the wedge at that angle and the wedge is flat with square edges. Once the wedge screw was removed the wedge could be pushed out with your thumb. Plus the story of the cylinder swapping is a wives tale.

Absolutely a tool of the time. My comment about NOT being unique was my poor attempt to allude to this as it was serving multiple functions in the hands of its owner. Sort of a commonality breeds contempt scenario.

 

[Booner]

Fine detective work Boomer.

Thank you. I like the suggestion it was used to drive tacks. Someone has to put up those wanted posters.

Oh, btw. it's BooNer, not Boomer, and it ain't Boner either. I live in Boonville, Mo. and have been called Booner for more years than I care to admit.

 

[Johnny Shafto]

Thank you. I like the suggestion it was used to drive tacks. Someone has to put up those wanted posters.

Oh, btw. it's BooNer, not Boomer, and it ain't Boner either. I live in Boonville, Mo. and have been called Booner for more years than I care to admit.

Whops! My apologies. Spell check is no excuse for not proofreading. Working on additional images of this interesting revolver. Thanks Booner.

 

[Ed Zeppelin]

Two images of a Colt 1851 Navy. Take a look at the markings on the butt and strap. It appears it's service included substituting as a hammer for someone without a more suitable option for pounding purposes and with no time or inclination to seek out a better alternative. So who does this? Can we assume the owner, or someone who borrowed it without the owner's knowing? Can we also assume that anyone treating this fine revolver in such a manner has minimal concern for its uniqueness? I offer these images and musings for your edification and imagination. What say you? And what, given a closer examination of the scaring, might have this lover of fine firearms been hammering on?

View attachment 426657

View attachment 426658

I don't usually watch TV westerns, but I do like The Rifleman and I have seen gun butts used to mount posters/signs. And although there are several inaccuracies on the show (like the rifle he used and the jeans he wears), I'm willing to bet folks used their guns as hammers.



Sent from my Commodore 64 running Windoze 95

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Seen so many guns with the hammer marks. I am more surprised when I don't see them.

 

[bayonet]

Seen so many guns with the hammer marks. I am more surprised when I don't see them.

good reason for many if not all of the old flintlock pistols having large amounts of brass or iron on the butt end of the stock. Once you fired your 1 and only shot you spun it around and bashed them over the head with it. Skull Crusher

 

[Old Soldier]

Two images of a Colt 1851 Navy. Take a look at the markings on the butt and strap. It appears it's service included substituting as a hammer for someone without a more suitable option for pounding purposes and with no time or inclination to seek out a better alternative. So who does this? Can we assume the owner, or someone who borrowed it without the owner's knowing? Can we also assume that anyone treating this fine revolver in such a manner has minimal concern for its uniqueness? I offer these images and musings for your edification and imagination. What say you? And what, given a closer examination of the scaring, might have this lover of fine firearms been hammering on?

View attachment 426657

View attachment 426658

It is a matter of time passing. When it was issued, it was not 'unique', just an issue revolver. After the war it was just another gun - an old gun. I mean, what DO you use to hammer that nail in when there isn't a hammer to hand?