Silver Plated Trigger Guards.

[Certus]

Hi,
I have a Remington New Model Navy revolver dating to December 1864 which still bears traces of silver plating on the trigger guard.
Anybody know how common this practice was and if it was maybe confined to Navy revolvers or to those destined for the civilian market.
Brian

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Colt did a lot of silver plating on the 1849 Pocket, and on the commercially sold (non-military contract) 1851 Navy's (I have some silver on an 1849 and on an 1851). I don't know anything about silver plating by Remington or the other manufacturers.

If I had ever been asked "Do you want the brass parts on your revolver plated in silver?" my normal "I'm a simple guy" reply would have been an instinctive "No!". However, having actually seen these antiques with the silver plating, I rather do like the look of the silver.

 

[UCVRelics]

Hi,
I have a Remington New Model Navy revolver dating to December 1864 which still bears traces of silver plating on the trigger guard.
Anybody know how common this practice was and if it was maybe confined to Navy revolvers or to those destined for the civilian market.
Brian

The Navy did not martially mark these revolvers and the silver plate was not part of the Navy contract. We would love to see photos of your Remington to include serial# if possible.

 

[Certus]

Hi,
The Serial Number of my Navy is 30162 which according to my Donal Ware's book places it in a small batch ordered by the Navy in mid December 1864. Pictures aren't of great quality, but you can still make out the remains of the silver plating to the trigger guard. I know Colt trigger guards were plated more frequently than Remingtons, but wondered whether the plating could have been added as a protective finish to prevent tarnishing of the brass in the harsher marine environment.

 

[Certus]

a couple of photos of the Remington Navy with remains of silver plated trigger guard.

Brian

 

[JOHN42768]

Very nice

 

[UCVRelics]

Great looking Remington Navy. It could have been a special order but silver plating was not a contract item. One thing to look at is the screws to see if they have been removed post production.

 

[hrobalabama]

I have had 1849, 1851,1860 and 1861 Colts that had traces of silver plating on TG and back strap. I have had one Pocket Navy that was completely silver plated. Some were commercial and some military inspected. I have not had a Remington that was plated.

 

[Mk VII]

Typically the plating on Colts (and many others at this period) is rather poor and does not survive the years well unless the gun has seen very little use.

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

That is indeed a nice looking Remington! Nice addition to the collection.

Looks like a fair bit of the silver survived.

 

[Greshamian]

A little bit of silver does enhance a pistol!

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Good and honest looking aged plating.
As I recall Ware's listings, he could not and does not give specific numbers sent to the Navy on contract - I think he just gives you the starting and ending serials (or a general idea of the serials range) in a specific order. There could be civilian orders mixed into a particular group of serial numbers.
Also, to get an order out, I am sure Remington would finish filling the order with revolvers that had been finished to a more expensive level to sell on the civilian market, just as a butcher might finish an important order for 73% lean, 27% fat (this is the standard mix for everyday hamburger beef) by adding some more expensive 80% lean, 20% fat is that's what it took to get the order shipped out the door!
So, a revolver with plated triggerguard and perhaps better polishing and finishing might well have been sent to the military.
Or your gun might have been sold on the civilian market.

 

[drm2m]

Silver on a '49 Colt.

 

[Mark A]

Silver plated trigger guard & back strap on my Metropolitan Navy revolver s/n 3294. Tarnished to glossy black over the many years.

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Some nice looking guns!

drm2m, that's an exceptional 1849 Pocket.