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Picked up this martially marked Colt 1851 Navy revolver for what I feel was a fair price. Fair. Not a steal but less than I'm seeing others priced at. Unlike my prior 1851, this one is clearly marked with US indicating ownership by the US Army.
From some quick online searching, Tim Prince of College Hill Arsenal provides some background info on the 1851 in general and the martial versions specifically:
In 1850 Samuel Colt introduced what would become his most successful large frame percussion revolver, a revolver that would be second only to his incredibly successful M-1849 Pocket Model in sales of all percussion handguns. The Colt "Belt Model of Navy Caliber", better known to collectors as the Colt M-1851 Navy Revolver went into production in 1851 and remained a mainstay of the Colt product line until 1873.
Colt was always trying to obtain military contracts for his firearms, as they not only represented sales, but also publicity and notoriety. Colt felt there was no better marketing message than to tell perspective customers that they could buy the same firearms used by the US government from him. These open market purchases are typically devoid of inspection or US ownership marks. However, the pre-war Colt contract deliveries were stringently inspected and marked, and those guns not up to snuff were rejected. The martially marked "Navy-Army" revolvers were stamped "U.S." on the lower left side of the frame, under the COLT's / PATENT. After passing the inspection process, the walnut grip then received two cartouches, the one on the left side being that of the arsenal sub-inspector who had passed the gun, and the one on the right side being the accepting officer from the Ordnance Department who was accepting the gun for the US government, and the bill associated with that gun.
The majority of the martially marked, pre-Civil War contract M-1851 Navy revolvers are found in the serial number range from about 42,000 to about 80,000 placing their production between early 1855 (which started that year's production at about #40,000) and late 1857 (which ended that year's production around #85,000). The majority of the martially marked US Army "Navies' are 3rd Model revolvers with small brass triggerguards, a wide capping cut out in the recoil shield and a narrow lever catch.
Many of the early M-1851 Navies that were delivered to the Army were issued to the newly formed 1st and 2nd Cavalry regiments, who used them to good effect fighting hostile natives on the western plains. Some 7,800 Colt Navy revolvers had been issued for use by troops in the field by the end of fiscal year 1859 (June 30). Additionally some 2,000 were issued to the various states under the Militia Act of 1808, with the three largest batches going to Indiana (who receiving 250 in September 1857), New Hampshire (who received 300 in October 1857) and Texas (who receiving 368 in August 1858). Of course the M-1851 Navy-Armies remained in use during the American Civil War as well, with at least 56 US and volunteer regiments being armed with .36 Colt revolvers.
Due to the fact that many of the pre-war purchased guns saw frontier duty before the Civil War, and most saw significant action during the war, it is difficult to find high condition example of a US martially marked "Navy-Army" revolvers today. Civil War era martial Colts are very difficult to find as most saw heavy use in the years leading up to the Civil War and even harder use during the war. After nearly a decade of constant military issue and use (and another 150 years since the war), few marital Colt Navy revolvers survive today.
This martial 1851 was manufactured in 1856. It is marked ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY. I can't make out all the letters on either cartouche but will work on it with a magnifying glass. The pistol is all matching to include the wedge. The cylinder scene is still visible as well.
Given the scarcity of martial Colt 1851s, and the condition of this one (finish, all matching, cartouches, etc.), I'm very happy with this purchase and an happy to add it to my Civil War firearms collection.
Here are some pics of my most recent purchase. Hoping these might help others with research, etc.
From some quick online searching, Tim Prince of College Hill Arsenal provides some background info on the 1851 in general and the martial versions specifically:
In 1850 Samuel Colt introduced what would become his most successful large frame percussion revolver, a revolver that would be second only to his incredibly successful M-1849 Pocket Model in sales of all percussion handguns. The Colt "Belt Model of Navy Caliber", better known to collectors as the Colt M-1851 Navy Revolver went into production in 1851 and remained a mainstay of the Colt product line until 1873.
Colt was always trying to obtain military contracts for his firearms, as they not only represented sales, but also publicity and notoriety. Colt felt there was no better marketing message than to tell perspective customers that they could buy the same firearms used by the US government from him. These open market purchases are typically devoid of inspection or US ownership marks. However, the pre-war Colt contract deliveries were stringently inspected and marked, and those guns not up to snuff were rejected. The martially marked "Navy-Army" revolvers were stamped "U.S." on the lower left side of the frame, under the COLT's / PATENT. After passing the inspection process, the walnut grip then received two cartouches, the one on the left side being that of the arsenal sub-inspector who had passed the gun, and the one on the right side being the accepting officer from the Ordnance Department who was accepting the gun for the US government, and the bill associated with that gun.
The majority of the martially marked, pre-Civil War contract M-1851 Navy revolvers are found in the serial number range from about 42,000 to about 80,000 placing their production between early 1855 (which started that year's production at about #40,000) and late 1857 (which ended that year's production around #85,000). The majority of the martially marked US Army "Navies' are 3rd Model revolvers with small brass triggerguards, a wide capping cut out in the recoil shield and a narrow lever catch.
Many of the early M-1851 Navies that were delivered to the Army were issued to the newly formed 1st and 2nd Cavalry regiments, who used them to good effect fighting hostile natives on the western plains. Some 7,800 Colt Navy revolvers had been issued for use by troops in the field by the end of fiscal year 1859 (June 30). Additionally some 2,000 were issued to the various states under the Militia Act of 1808, with the three largest batches going to Indiana (who receiving 250 in September 1857), New Hampshire (who received 300 in October 1857) and Texas (who receiving 368 in August 1858). Of course the M-1851 Navy-Armies remained in use during the American Civil War as well, with at least 56 US and volunteer regiments being armed with .36 Colt revolvers.
Due to the fact that many of the pre-war purchased guns saw frontier duty before the Civil War, and most saw significant action during the war, it is difficult to find high condition example of a US martially marked "Navy-Army" revolvers today. Civil War era martial Colts are very difficult to find as most saw heavy use in the years leading up to the Civil War and even harder use during the war. After nearly a decade of constant military issue and use (and another 150 years since the war), few marital Colt Navy revolvers survive today.
This martial 1851 was manufactured in 1856. It is marked ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY. I can't make out all the letters on either cartouche but will work on it with a magnifying glass. The pistol is all matching to include the wedge. The cylinder scene is still visible as well.
Given the scarcity of martial Colt 1851s, and the condition of this one (finish, all matching, cartouches, etc.), I'm very happy with this purchase and an happy to add it to my Civil War firearms collection.
Here are some pics of my most recent purchase. Hoping these might help others with research, etc.
Bringing the