1861 Colt Navy Revolver Question

thats why I like them so much, you hold history in your hands every time you pick one up......only thing with the colts is you'll pay LOL not a cheap hobbie...but long as you can aford it it's a hell of alot of fun.
 
I thought that the sidearms used in the civil war were stamped "US", have you dated the exact year it was manufactured? It was possible to get an "1851 Colt Navy" made years after the civil war.

What is the serial number? I have a book somewhere that tells you the years they were made by the serial numbers.

See for my 1851 Colt Navy was built in late 1863 or early 1864 (The civil war was pretty much over by that time although it officially ended in 1865) so the odds of this pistol being used in the war is pretty nil ALTHOUGH it has been fired at people before (range war).

A neat fact is Wild Bill Hickok carried two Colt '51 Navies, they were his favorite pistols. Although his were silver plated with ivory handles.
 
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the 1851 navy was produced from late 1850 to 1873 they made around 255,000 guns in the states and another 40,000 of the london model in england.
 
Also to the OP, did you buy this 1860 Colt from http://w ww.cullodenantiques.com?

I think you might be mixing these two revolvers in your head :D

If so their webpage that has the exact same pictures as the ones you posted list the gun as an 1860 Colt chambered in .44

The 1861 Colt Navy BELOW that is the .36 caliber

Culloden Antiques has this pictured on thier website:
colt_1860_army_revolver.jpg


Colt M. 1860 Martial Army Revolver. Six shot .44 cal. ser# 127180 on all visible parts. 8" round barrel marked "Address Col. Saml Colt New-York U.S. America", Colts Patent on left side of frame, cut for shoulder stock, walnut one piece grip stamped with cartouches, brass trigger guard and back strap. C. 1863 Note: The standard Revolver of the U.S. Civil War C 1863.
$ 2,595.00 US
NOW
$ 2,250.00 US

Also an 1860 with the production number of 127180 means that it was made in late 1863 to early 1864.

Now THIS one is the Colt 1861 Navy in .36:
6_colt_1861_navy_revolver1.jpg


A colt 1861 6 shot Navy Revolver .36 Cal. Serial number 8350 C. 1862 with black/brown colour on all steel parts. "Colts Patent" to left side of frame, slight cylinder scene remaining, brass trigger guard and back strap, walnut one piece grips. Over all gun shows ware, a descent civil war colt.
$ 2,000.00 US
NOW
$ 1,850.00 US
 
they made them with and without the 4 screw option, the 4 screw option is to attach your shoulder stock too if you look you'll see it has the army frame cut for the stock with the rebated cyilnder, it just dosnt have the 4 screws....I see it also has the steel backstrap is it cut in the butt with a notch for the hook on the shoulder stock?
 
the 1860 was made in these numbers 4,000 fluted cyilnder models, with over all prodution of over 200,000 in all.
 
the 1860 was made in these numbers 4,000 fluted cyilnder models, with over all prodution of over 200,000 in all.

I thought the fluted barrel only came with the 7.5" barrel?

And yeah I missed that chapter in my book about the screws in the frame. The early models of the 1860 Colt Army had the 4 screws with the later version having 3. Or is that the other way around.....
 
from what I know the 4 screws and 3 screws were produced around the same time ...im not sure where or if there even was an over lap in the production.
 
if its from 1862 it could very well have been used in the civil war. I dont see why it wouldnt have.

Broosky, where did you get the info that it was made in 1862? The serial number that I took from the website states it was made in late 1863 and early 1864. In fact the Culloden website states it was made in 1863.

Unless you bought the 1861 Colt Navy in .36, then that one was made in 1862.

you've confused me though. You originally said you were getting the Colt 1861 Navy in .36, yet then you posted pictures of an 1860 Colt Army in .44 (according to the website).

So which one did you pick up? The 1861 Navy in .36 or the 1860 Army in .44?
 
like i said in the posts before... I made a mistake and its a 44.

Ok so you bought the 1860 Colt Army then, which was made in late 1863 according to the serial number :D

Serial Numbers 85,###+ were started in 1863 with serial numbers 150,###+ started in the early months of 1864

So if the website was correct your Colt Army has a serial number of 127180.

Also if the website is correct then your revolver has the cut out for the shoulder stock. Not bad!
 
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