Colt Navy Revolvers

A Colt Navy with matching serial numbers and a cylinder scene that is still legible has become a rare find after more than 150 years of use. Most surviving Colt Navy revolvers were carried hard, repaired or fitted with replacement parts, and many a Colt Derringer was worn down in a pocket until its markings all but disappeared. Wild West Treasures selects both at arms fairs in the United States and Europe and photographs every piece in detail, so you can judge its condition for yourself.

Colt Navy revolvers of 1851 and 1861

Colt Navy revolvers take their name from the naval battle scene rolled onto the cylinder, not from service at sea. They are six-shot .36 calibre percussion revolvers, lighter than the .44 Army models, which made them popular with officers, lawmen and travellers alike. Both versions regularly appear among the Colts for sale in the catalogue, and each has its own collecting appeal:

• 1851 Navy. The classic model with an octagonal barrel, made in Hartford from 1850 to 1873 and for a few years in London, which makes London-marked examples a collecting field in their own right.
• 1861 Navy. A streamlined version with a round barrel and a creeping loading lever, made in far smaller numbers and harder to find today.

What is the difference between a Colt Army and a Colt Navy?

The main difference between a Colt Army and a Colt Navy is the calibre, as the Navy fires a .36 ball and the 1860 Army a .44. To fit the larger chambers, the Army has a rebated cylinder and a longer grip frame, while Colt Navy revolvers keep a straight cylinder and a lighter, better-balanced feel. Both models saw heavy use in the Civil War, and both can be found in the complete Colt collection alongside other antique Western firearms.

How do you tell an original Colt Navy from a reproduction?

Original Colt Navy revolvers carry Colt‘s barrel address, such as the New York address on Hartford-made 1851s or the London address on British production, and their serial number repeats on the main parts. Modern Italian reproductions often copy those markings, but they carry Italian proof marks and a modern finish. For Colt collectors, worn but genuine Colt Navy revolvers with matching numbers are usually worth more than a crisp example with replaced parts.

What is a Colt Derringer?

A Colt Derringer is a small single-shot pocket pistol that Colt made from 1870, after taking over the National Arms Company. The first two versions of the Colt Derringer were based on National‘s designs, while the Third Model, designed by Alexander Thuer and introduced in 1875, has a barrel that swings sideways for loading. That Third Model Colt Derringer stayed in production until 1912. If you want to compare one with other makers, the catalogue also lists derringers of all makes.

Check your Navy or Derringer before you buy

Before you decide on an 1851 Navy, a London-marked example or a Colt Derringer, you get a full answer on its markings, condition and availability. Simply contact us about the piece that caught your eye, without obligation. Popular revolvers tend to sell quickly, so an early question gives you the best chance.