Excellent British Army .36 Caliber Colt 1851 Pistol

Colt 1851 London Navy – Excellent Mechanical Condition

In the early 1850s, Samuel Colt manufactured two revolver models: a lightweight version—the highly popular 1849 Colt Pocket—and a heavy version, the Colt Dragoon. The introduction of the Colt Navy filled the gap between these two perfectly. The Colt 1851 Navy—also known as the "Belt" revolver—is a medium-caliber (.36) firearm of manageable size. Production ran from 1850 to 1873, with a total of 215,348 units manufactured. It features an octagonal barrel ranging in length from 5 3/16 inches to 12 inches. Valued by the military for its weight and handling, it served as the primary sidearm for soldiers and officers prior to the widespread adoption of the Colt Army revolver, despite its smaller caliber. The weapon remained highly sought-after during the Civil War, with over 40,000 units produced in 1863 alone. The Colt 1851 Navy was one of Samuel Colt's personal favorites and was also favored by many famous figures.

This highly collectible Colt 1851 Navy "Belt" pistol is a "London" model used by the British Army, as evidenced by the "WD" (War Department) markings and the broad arrow symbol above them. The metal components display a beautiful light gunmetal finish, with traces of the original bluing—particularly beneath the barrel. The markings are correct and deeply stamped. The serial numbers (27XXX, dating to 1855) match across the various frame components and the cylinder, making this a "matching-numbers" piece. The screw heads on the frame are in good condition, reflecting the care taken by the previous owner. The mechanism is in excellent condition with no play, making the firearm fully functional for shooting. Furthermore, the barrel features excellent rifling. This superb piece is complemented by an impeccable varnished stock. This collectible Colt Navy 1851 black powder revolver certainly has a long story to tell.