1851 Colt Navy Pistols
- Thread starter drache
- Start date
The big difference between the Military and Civvie 1851 pistols were the Civilian models were tarted up with silver plate on parts of the backstrap and trigger guard. They also had options for hand engraving, etc. for a price 
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The price of an 1851 was between $20.00 and $40.00 at the time.
.The price of an 1851 was between $20.00 and $40.00 at the time.
The big difference between the Military and Civvie 1851 pistols were the Civilian models were tarted up with silver plate on parts of the backstrap and trigger guard. They also had options for hand engraving, etc. for a price
The price of an 1851 was between $20.00 and $40.00 at the time.
Thanks for the info, seems that I was left an original Union Colt Navy then which raises more questions than answers.
I already know the year it was manufactured and I know who I think originally owned it and passed down through my family. The problem is the gun was manufactured in 1863 and the man who supposedly originally owned it, he was discharged from service on December 1st of 1863 (he was 69 years old).
Now he was dirt poor and died about 10+ years later. Now did he get this brand new pistol from the Army? He was only a member of a Militia and from his records the only rank we can make out was Sergeant in 1862 (can't read the rank in 1863).
Now after this man died, his wife gave the pistol her their son who was taking a wagon westward "to keep him safe" as the journal goes.
Thus my two main questions:
What ranks were issued pistols?
Were militia ever issued pistols?
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The short answer is yes to both questions. Typically, senior NCOs were issued sidearms and, during the Civil War, militias served alongside "regular" troops.
They would be considered the reservists of their time.
P.S. You lucky bugger. The Colt is a once-in-a-lifetime pistol and it is outstanding that you have a record of its provenance. You could write the Colt company, with the Serial Number, and see what they have for records.
Bob
They would be considered the reservists of their time.
P.S. You lucky bugger
. The Colt is a once-in-a-lifetime pistol and it is outstanding that you have a record of its provenance. You could write the Colt company, with the Serial Number, and see what they have for records.Bob
Here's the history on my ancestor that I can figure out. Sadly only these records survive with the US Government....
Jacob Cogdill (or Cogdell as some of his military records state) fought in the war of 1812 (Enlisted Oct 26 1813, discharged June 30 1815, under the command of a Captain B. Reynolds) and during the civil war enlisted in the Gentry County Home Guards as a private at the tender age of 67 on August 29 1861. Enlisted and mustered the same day. Remarks "Date of disbanding of this company or time of service not give on muster rolls. Served 21 days".
August 9 1862 had him enrolled as a Sergeant in the 31st Regiment Enrolled MO. Militia under a General Loan in Albany. Ordered into active service the same day. He was relieved from this duty on November 24 1862.
April 20 1863 he was once again enrolled as a Sergeant with the 31st Regiment Enrolled MO. Militia under a General Hall in Albany. Ordered into active service on July 23 1863. He was relieved from this duty on October 13 of 1863 by a Col. J.F. Williams.
Finally in October 29 of 1863 he was enrolled with the 81st Regiment EMM Co. at the age of 69. He was ordered into active service on the same day. He was finally relieved from duty on December 1st of 1863 for being over age.
He passed away in 1879.
Now, according to the above on April 20, 1863 he was a Sergeant with the 31st, by October 29, 1863 he was supposedly a private with the 81st. Now I don't think a private would be issued a pistol so he would have had to gotten the pistol between April 20th and October 13th while he was a Sergeant with the 31st. The serial number (162,394) states the pistol was made in 1863 at the New York plant, 135,000+ were made in 1862, 175,000+ were made in 1864.
You can find the record for him being in the 81st below and the "rank" although good luck reading it.
http://www.sos.mo.gov/TIF2PDFConsum...War/ServiceCards/s813/1117.tif&Fln=S79868.pdf
As for pictures I currently down have the pistol in my possession as it's still at my father's ranch. I'll get pictures ASAP!
Jacob Cogdill (or Cogdell as some of his military records state) fought in the war of 1812 (Enlisted Oct 26 1813, discharged June 30 1815, under the command of a Captain B. Reynolds) and during the civil war enlisted in the Gentry County Home Guards as a private at the tender age of 67 on August 29 1861. Enlisted and mustered the same day. Remarks "Date of disbanding of this company or time of service not give on muster rolls. Served 21 days".
August 9 1862 had him enrolled as a Sergeant in the 31st Regiment Enrolled MO. Militia under a General Loan in Albany. Ordered into active service the same day. He was relieved from this duty on November 24 1862.
April 20 1863 he was once again enrolled as a Sergeant with the 31st Regiment Enrolled MO. Militia under a General Hall in Albany. Ordered into active service on July 23 1863. He was relieved from this duty on October 13 of 1863 by a Col. J.F. Williams.
Finally in October 29 of 1863 he was enrolled with the 81st Regiment EMM Co. at the age of 69. He was ordered into active service on the same day. He was finally relieved from duty on December 1st of 1863 for being over age.
He passed away in 1879.
Now, according to the above on April 20, 1863 he was a Sergeant with the 31st, by October 29, 1863 he was supposedly a private with the 81st. Now I don't think a private would be issued a pistol so he would have had to gotten the pistol between April 20th and October 13th while he was a Sergeant with the 31st. The serial number (162,394) states the pistol was made in 1863 at the New York plant, 135,000+ were made in 1862, 175,000+ were made in 1864.
You can find the record for him being in the 81st below and the "rank" although good luck reading it.
http://www.sos.mo.gov/TIF2PDFConsum...War/ServiceCards/s813/1117.tif&Fln=S79868.pdf
As for pictures I currently down have the pistol in my possession as it's still at my father's ranch. I'll get pictures ASAP!
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Strange how he kept enrolling and then being relieved after a few months. Perhaps the militias went in and out of service depending on the proximity of enemy troops.
Also struck me that it does not seem to have occurred to anyone that the gun could have been a battlefield pickup by Jacob Cogdill. There must have been lots of guns laying around after major battles.
cheers mooncoon
Also struck me that it does not seem to have occurred to anyone that the gun could have been a battlefield pickup by Jacob Cogdill. There must have been lots of guns laying around after major battles.
cheers mooncoon
You are right, the militias were only enrolled into service depending on if they were needed. He signed up as a "home guard" meaning he was always "on duty" at home but would be called into militia service when needed.
You are right that the pistol could have been picked up, BUT there are two things to that theory:
1)Sergeants WERE issued pistols
2)Even if he picked it off the battlefield, the pistol was STILL made brand new in 1863 which he was only in a militia during 1863 for a matter of 8 month (6 as a Sergeant).
These pistols were so mass produced there were HUGE stockpiles of brand new ones left over from the war and so they started selling the military versions to the public. Why/How would a BRAND new one end up in the hands of a militiaman?
drache,
Government purchased 51 Navies will have "US" stamped on the left frame under the Colts Patent marking as shown in the photo below as well a final acceptance stamp on the grip panels, with inspectors markings on various parts of the pistol.
In the case of this gun the inspector was M. Moulton with initials M M on the left grip panel.
Sidearms were often privately purchased and the absence of the markings referred to above will indicate a civilian gun.
David
Note the inspector's initial "C" on the trigger guard.
These single initials are also stamped on the brass back strap and cylinder.
The 51 Navies purchased by the army are known as Navy-Armies and had brass back straps and small rounded trigger guards.
The U.S. Navy purchased 51 Navies with iron back straps with large rounded iron trigger guards.
Government purchased 51 Navies will have "US" stamped on the left frame under the Colts Patent marking as shown in the photo below as well a final acceptance stamp on the grip panels, with inspectors markings on various parts of the pistol.
In the case of this gun the inspector was M. Moulton with initials M M on the left grip panel.
Sidearms were often privately purchased and the absence of the markings referred to above will indicate a civilian gun.
David
Note the inspector's initial "C" on the trigger guard.
These single initials are also stamped on the brass back strap and cylinder.
The 51 Navies purchased by the army are known as Navy-Armies and had brass back straps and small rounded trigger guards.
The U.S. Navy purchased 51 Navies with iron back straps with large rounded iron trigger guards.
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drm3m,
I'm pretty sure I remember seeing little letters like that on the gun and wondering what they meant but I can't say for 100% sure until it's back in my possession.
On another note, what would one of these pistols be worth? Not that I would sell it but mainly for insurance purposes. This one is far from mint and has been well used over the years. It still "works" although I wouldn't even try shooting it if I was paid $100,000,000 and drunk....
I'm pretty sure I remember seeing little letters like that on the gun and wondering what they meant but I can't say for 100% sure until it's back in my possession.
On another note, what would one of these pistols be worth? Not that I would sell it but mainly for insurance purposes. This one is far from mint and has been well used over the years. It still "works" although I wouldn't even try shooting it if I was paid $100,000,000 and drunk....
Well here are the pics, sadly the frame of this revolver has a hairline fracture (seen in one of the pictures). She's in really rough shape sadly. She went across the US in a covered wagon.... So now comes the interesting question, if this isn't a military issued pistol then where did it come from? The simple fact is the original owner never had enough money to buy it let alone a horse.
