Colt Model 1851 Navy .36 Percussion Revolver, Shortened 5.5 in Octagonal Barrel, Composite/Altered with Early-Numbered Frame (Mfg. 1851)
This Colt Model 1851 Navy is a .36 caliber, six-shot cap-and-ball percussion revolver presenting as a composite/altered example. It features an approximately 5.5 inch shortened octagonal barrel, an early-numbered frame, and a later-style barrel address. The top of the barrel is marked "ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA," and the revolver retains the open-top frame layout with brass trigger guard and brass backstrap. Design lineage traces to the Model 1851 pattern (Mfg.
1851).
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The revolver is structurally solid. Metal surfaces show scratches and blemishes from prior use and handling. The bore is clean and shiny. The one-piece walnut grip shows damage with sections cracked off.
What's Included
- Colt Model 1851 Navy .36 percussion revolver (composite/altered, approx. 5.5 in barrel)
This revolver follows the classic Navy configuration: open-top frame, octagonal steel barrel with loading lever and front latch, and a six-shot steel cylinder. It uses fixed iron sights with a brass front bead/post and a rear hammer notch. The frame and receiver show a color case-hardened finish, complemented by a brass trigger guard with a round bow and a brass backstrap.
It is a composite/altered example with an early-numbered frame and later-style barrel address. The barrel has been professionally shortened to approximately 5.5 inches. Visible matching serial digits "9931" appear on the frame and trigger guard, while the barrel lug serial is present but not clearly matching.
Markings include the top barrel legend "ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA" and a .36 caliber marking on the frame. Sighting is via the brass front bead and rear hammer notch. The revolver retains its one-piece walnut grip and the traditional single-action percussion mechanism.
U.S.-made and dating to the Model 1851 pattern (Mfg. 1851), this example aligns with the circa 1852 era while exhibiting the noted later-style barrel address. It remains a cap-and-ball percussion revolver with the classic six-shot, .36 caliber configuration.