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PAIR OF CONSECUTIVELY NUMBERED IVORY-GRIPPED LARGE IRON-TRIGGERGUARD COLT M1851 NAVIES

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Formerly in the collections of the Texas Civil War Museum, this pair of consecutively numbered Colt 1851 Navies are Late Third Models, numbered 64964 and 64965, dating to late 1856 or early 1857, given Wilson’s (and Jordan’s) estimated 1856 production ending at 64999, just thirty-five numbers away. The serial numbers on the barrel assembly and frame have a small tick, likely indicating they were set aside for special treatment or finish. Both are fitted with ivory grips bearing a Mexican-style eagle and snake motif on one side, and appear to have been silver plated, something Jordan notes as uncommon in this serial number range, with remnants showing up less on #64 than on #65 from handling and use.

Both revolvers have large iron triggerguards and backstraps, part of a group falling in the 55000 to 69400 serial number range, noted by Jordan (with other groups known,) and both have long cutouts for the hammer in the backstrap apron (Jordan’s #3 cutout) that, along with rather flat triggerguard bows, points to use of parts shipped back to the U.S. from Colt’s London operation after its closure and which show up on Colts assembled in the U.S. in 1856-57 time frame, fitting these revolvers.

Both revolvers show as silver gray with darker gray spotting. The metal is smooth, though #65 preserves much more of its silver plating that flaked slightly or bubbled giving it a freckled look while #64 shows just traces on the underside of the triggerguard bow and the gripstrap and gripstrap lugs. #64 certainly saw more use judging from the losses to the silver, but the metal of the frame and underside of the barrel lug is smooth and has a pleasing faint blue tone, though one side of the cylinder apparently laid against a surface that attracted moisture, creating some broad, shallow, dark pitting that has done away with part of the cylinder scene.  Mechanics on both function well.

Both revolvers have very good barrel addresses: “ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CT,” which overlapped with the earlier New York address and Jordan notes show up as early as number 64851 on large iron triggerguard Navies. Both also have good “COLTS / PATENT” stamps on the left frame, though showing some rubbing along the bottom and more visible on #64 than #65 from the remnants of the silver and staining. The cylinder scene on #65 is very good, showing the ships, ship rigging, and the “ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843” caption along the cylinder edge, just a little light on the right end. On #64 the pitting obscures much of the scene on one side, but the portions of the scene that remain are very good. The cylinder numbers are good, but show some wear on the patent marking.

The eagle and snake motif appears on the left grip of #64 and on the right grip of #65. The grips on both show brown striations and crazing but are solid, showing just slight age gaps and a couple of hardly noticeable wear spots to edges. The grips on #64 show a bit more wear to the motif and a bit lighter on both sides than on #65, though still showing some brown in recesses of the motif. The grips on both pistols show about the same crazing on the bottom of the butts and same vertical striations on the blank sides, but #64 shows more on the side with the motif.

This is a strong pair of Colt ’51 Navies with great character that were clearly made, sold, used, and preserved together for the past 160-some years. They have great eye-appeal and would add to an early western or Colt collection, or even a Texas Confederate cavalry themed display. [sr][ph:m/L]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire.

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