In House Shipping:
Make: Colt
Model: 1861 Navy
Serial Number: 35055
Year of Manufacture: 1871 (
https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .36 Caliber Cap and Ball
Action Type: Single Action Percussion Revolver
Barrel Length: 7 1/2″, Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight was a "V"-notch in the hammer, the nose over the hammer appears to have been modified such that there is no notch.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece smooth walnut. The grip has scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are small losses at the bottom corners, most notable at the left-front. Overall, the grip is in Good-Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color & Brass
Finish Originality: Very little finish remains. Some areas show polishing, most notable on the barrel, but we see no sign of a new finish being applied. Numbered parts are matching, but the wedge is not numbered.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray, the rifling is well defined. There is light-moderate erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. There is a bulge in the bore about mid-way down, there are fissures on the exterior of the barrel at the bulge. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 2 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 10% of its metal finish. Apart from the grip frame, most of the metal surfaces have worn or been polished bright, showing scattered discoloration from oxidation and some minor surface erosion. There are several scattered light-moderate nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches including tool marks on and around the wedge. There are fissures on the exterior of the barrel at the bulge in the bore. There is notable scratching on the left of the barrel and loading lever. The nose of the hammer has been modified, there is no longer a rear sight notch. The action shows operational wear. The nipples are in decent condition, they are not obstructed. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with useable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this revolver is in Fair-Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, but due to the fissures in the barrel it should not be fired. We have not fired this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: A leather holster is included.
Our Assessment: The Colt 1861 Navy revolver was an update to the earlier 1851 model, incorporating the round barrel and creeping loading lever of the 1860 Army. In all respects, it is a great percussion revolver, but it saw limited production for a few reasons. Limited numbers were procured by the Government as there were already large purchases of the 1851 and 1860 models. After the Civil War, the civilian market was flooded with surplus weapons, limiting demand for new guns. Colt's factory had a disastrous fire in 1864, and by then cartridge revolvers were starting to hit the market. For these reasons, despite the quality of the design, there were fewer than 40,000 produced between 1861 and 1873 when the model was discontinued. It would, however, have an influence on the Single Action Army, which had a similar grip frame (though steel instead of brass) and would retain the 7 1/2" barrel length for the Model 1873 adopted by the U.S. Army. This Model 1861 revolver certainly shows its age, and we only wish it could tell us its story. It will make a nice display piece with other percussion-era small arms as well as a good addition to a Colt collection with its limited production. Please see our photos and good luck!