Ref 3681. A rare U.S. Govt. marked Colt 1851 percussion Navy revolver. Manufactured in 1857. .36 0 Muzzleloader

Largest selection of genuine antique weapons for sale in UK. See our website andrewbottomley.com Ref 3681. A rare U.S. military marked colt 1851 .36 calibre percussion Navy revolver. Manufactured in 1857. The 7.5 inch octagonal barrel marked ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY. The frame stamped with COLT PATENT U.S. Colt was continually trying to obtain military contracts for his firearms, as they not only represented huge 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. In the fall of 1850 the Board of Ordnance convened to test the new Colt Navy model pistol. The Navy was the first US service to purchase the Navy Caliber revolver. What swayed the Navy was being able to carry a handgun on your belt and this was an important feature for sailors. The first batch of 100 Colt Navy revolvers were delivered on July 10, 1852 and continued with some regularity through to September 1859, when the purchases of 1851 Navy revolvers ceased. With the outbreak of the American Civil War the Ordnance Department contracted for additional revolvers from Colt. However the pre war Colt contract deliveries were stringently inspected and marked and those guns which did not pass were rejected. The martially marked Navy 1851 revolvers were stamped U.S. on the lower left side of the frame under the COLT PATENT marking. After passing the inspection process, the walnut grip then received two military stamps 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. The majority of the martially marked pre-Civil War contract Navy revolvers are found in the serial number range from about 42,000 to about 80,000 placing their production between early 1855 and late 1857 which ended that year’s production around serial number 85,000. This Navy revolver is serial no 77813 manufactured in 1857 and with the U.S. marked on the side of the frame. Amazingly it still has the original percussion cylinder with serial number matched to the rest of the gun. The rammer is not matching serial number. A government cartouche is still just visible to both sides of the grips (very faint). Action in working order. Some signs of wear and use during it's working life, with a few dings and scratches to the grips. A rare Navy percussion revolver with the U.S. marking and cartouches that would have certainly been used during the era of the American civil war circa 1861-1865. The handgun favored by most mounted troops was the 1851 Colt Navy. Ref 3681. This is an obsolete antique item and is sold as a collectors item only. No Licence is required in the United Kingdom. If you wish to purchase this item please visit our website andrewbottomley.com where you can pay by credit/debit card. Established 1968.