Colt 1851 Navy Canadian Militia

[crusoe]

Does anyone know much about these guns? My understanding is that there were about 800 of them, bought from Colt London for the Upper Canada and Lower Canada cavalry militia in 1856. I've seen a few of these for sale in the US, with the upside-down stamp on the handle - UC or LC over a letter over a number. The serial nos all seem to be 1855. I've seen one in fine condition - though looking suspiciously like a reblue job - though most look as if they've seen a fair amount of use and damp long-term storage (one I saw had been severely scrubbed, presumably to remove pitting). Were these all sold off commercially as a batch when they became obsolete?

It's a shame seeing so many of these outside Canada - they seem a really important and rare part of Canadian military and arms history, and we should try to buy them back (if we can save up the money - I've seen them for no less than about 2500, up to 8000 or more).

It would be interesting to hear if anyone on the forum has one of these, and the serial no, stamp, condition etc.

 

[carlos]

Talk to Al Kerr at MILARM in Edmonton. Clive LAW wrote the book on Canadian military handguns. I have a copy.

 

[UCL7]

Upper Canada Colt 1851 Navy

Hi
You are right about our history leaving Canada. Here is one that is still in Canada and will never leave. They are interesting revolvers especially since they were the first issue to what is considered to be the very beginning of a permanent Canadian military. This one was issued to the London Ontario cavalry troop. It has its matching holster stamped with the same issue number as the Colt. It came down through my wife's side of the family along with a couple of wooden boxes of 6 round Hotchkiss patent bullets, a tin of Ely caps, a small leather pouch for the bullets and caps, and the matching holster. All in pretty fair shape. Thought you might enjoy seeing these photos. I have seen some of these show up over the years at gun shows but very rarely and they are for the most part not in too good a shape. The brand on the grips of this one is UCL7. An interesting note is that I have had this revolver for about 12 years and just recently at an auction I was able to buy an 1853 pattern Upper Canada cavalry sword that was issued with these revolvers. The sword I found is L3, only 4 numbers away from the issue number of the Colt. What are the odds on that?

 

[crusoe]

That's a beautiful gun and a fantastic history, especially with the family connection. What's the serial no?

Since my post I've done a bit of research and acquired Swayze's '51 Colt Navies as well as back issues of the now-defunct Arms Collecting with articles on the Canadian Colt. Paul Lederer wrote an article in the Feb 1989 issue with his collation of all known Canadian '51 Colts, and there were follow-ups in later issues (Feb 1991, Nov 1997).

Your revolver does not appear in his list of 162 known Canadian 1851 Colts, so is a new addition! He lists a total of 10 known by him to survive from the probable 51 issued to L Troop - including no 8 (serial no 34,811). Some of them are mismatched, as you would expect from military stock. The serial nos are mostly in the 28, 33 and 35 thousands, for 1855. As these were acquired from the British Govt and not directly from the Colt London factory, the serial nos are not necessarily contiguous, so that a troop might have serial nos ranging across 1855 and some 1856 production, with rare examples pre 1855.

I know of three further guns in addition to Lederer's list, all recently for sale or sold in the US:

UC G 38, serial no 33,206
UC K 33, serial no 34,787, with mismatches (incl 34,998 barrel)
UC A 50, serial no 27,856 (the most important addition, as this is one no. above the known original strength of company A, 49 men, and only two other Canadian Colts are known in the 27 thousands).

The revolvers were probably mostly in stores by 1879, when a number were sold off as obsolete - 178 'Colts' Pistols' surplus to the Department of Militia's requirements were sold that year, apparently via Montreal and New York firms. So some of these revolvers may have been in the US since then, and have been among collectors for generations. This seems consistent with some of the revolvers I've seen looking as if they've been reblued, as happened often in the early years of collecting. But others look as if they've come relatively recently from long-term storage - guns that look as if they've been little fired (eg with cylinder pins intact), but with considerable patchy surface corrosion from long-term damp storage. So maybe these remained in Govt storage well into the 20th century.

I might put up a page on this on my website - link here when done - so any additions and more information would be welcome.

 

[GrantR]

Perhaps these documents will be of some interest:


(..... click on each thumbnail to enlarge .....)

First: the Militia General Order of 16 May 1856, dealing with the marking and issue of the newly acquired firearms to units formed pursuant to the Militia Act of 1855. It was this Order which called for the "UC" and "LC" markings. Note also that over half of the Order is taken up with directions for loading and cleaning the "six shooting Colt's pistol".

Next: Receipt for arms issued to Troop "I" (Essex Troop of Volunteer Cavalry) signed by the Captain of the Troop.

Last: Bond given by a Trooper of the St. Catherine's Troop of Volunteer Cavalry (and his guarantor, likely father or brother) for £20.00 for the Colt revolver issued to him.

(Reproduced in Clive Law's "Canadian Military Handguns, 1855-1985".)

 

[wheaty]

The Canadian Journal of Arms Collecting has a complete issue related to the Canadian Colts. Phone Jim Gooding in Bloomfield Ontario (the publisher) for a copy...

 

[UCL7]

Intersting information that you have turned up, Crusoe. This old Colt has all matching numbers. It's serial number is 33###. You mention about the corrosion from storage. I wonder if a lot of these old Colts that were in storage were left in their holsters. I think some of the acids used in the tanning processes of that era could have been quite hard on metal if they weren't stored properly. At least that's my guess. I know this old Colt was stored off and on over the years in it's holster. The first time I ever saw it was in the 1960's but I know it was always cared for, wiped down occassionally and stored properly. Since I've had it, believe me, it has been babied and never stored in the holster. I think you're right about some of the Canadian Colts ending up in the US a long time ago. In fact I remember reading an article that credited an article in "the American Rifleman", I think the article was back in the 50s or 60s, that first shed some light on the stampings on the grips of the Canadian Colts. Apparently before that, very little was known about the Upper and Lower Canada Colts. You obviously know how we are as Canadians about our history, especially any thing to do with guns. But obviously more is known now.
A few years ago we were on a trip out west and visited the Cody Museum in Wyoming and they had on display an Upper Canada Colt, I forget now what the markings on it were, but I do remember it was in pretty rough shape.
Anyway, really fascinating history and information. I think what you are doing regarding the research is really worthwhile. I believe there is a lot of information out there, still lost in archives and old reports, that is yet to surface. Makes for an interesting hobby.