Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Herb Houze
turned out about 42,000 of the Model 1851, and these are detailed separately below.
36 caliber. 6-shot cylinder. 7-1/2" barrel; octagonal, with attached loading lever.
Grips of one piece varnished walnut. Casehardened frame, hammer, and lever; remainder blued. The gripstraps of silver plated brass; a few of steel, finished in blue.
Serial numbers began at 1 and the highest number recorded was 215348. Three basic barrel markings (American production) were used; their sequence is a means of classification for the model. The markings and their approximate serial ranges are: -ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY - (1 - 74000); - ADDRESS SAML COLT. HARTFORD CT. - (74000 - 101000); - ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA - (101000 - 215348). Throughout production the left side of the frame was marked: COLTS/PATENT. Also standard was the roll engraved cylinder scene, depicting a battle between the Texas Navy and that of Mexico.
The Model 1851 was Colt’s prime medium caliber handgun in the percussion period of manufacture in Hartford. As one of the most popular of American antique arms, the Navy has come to be recognized as a collecting specialty of its own. The number of variations is considerable, all detailed in the standard reference work ’51 Colt Navies, by Nathan L. Swayze. Basic to classification of variants are trigger guard types, markings, contours of certain parts, materials of gripstraps, and attachable shoulder stocks. Caution advised for so-called “Dragoon variant” with part round/octagon barrel. As with M. 1849 (see details), consensus of expert opinion believes variant never made by Colt and likely all specimens spurious.
First Model Square-back Trigger Guard; In serial range 1 - 1250 (however, a more recent study published in Gun Report, August 2006, indicates that serial range is more likely 1 - 800); recognizable by the square-back trigger guard, and screw under the wedge:
5B-050
| 5B-050 | Values—Good $5,000 | Fine $32,500 |
Second Model Square-back Trigger Guard; Serial range 1250 -4200; square-back trigger guard and the wedge screw above the wedge. A few are found in serial ranges up to 4500, and it is in those ranges especially where caution is advised as bogus specimens turn up; the usual round trigger guard is spuriously altered to square-back shape. Usually the workmanship is obvious; a few require very careful scrutiny.
| 5B-051 | Values—Good $3,250 | Fine $22,500 |
Third Model; Serial range 4200 - 85000 (a few in ranges as low as 3600); featuring the small rounded brass trigger guard:
| 5B-052 | Values—Good $900 | Fine $4,500 |
Fourth Model; Serial range 85000 - 215348; having the large rounded brass trigger guard:
5B-053
| 5B-053 | Values—Good $900 | Fine $4,000 |
(Note: Some overlap exists between the various serial ranges.) IMPORTANT VARIATIONS from the above are:
Iron gripstraps; most often seen having large trigger guard:
| 5B-054 | Values—Good $950 | Fine $4,500 |
Barrels marked - ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON - (U.S. made; high serial ranges):
| 5B-055 | Values—Good $900 | Fine $4,000 |
Martially marked Navies, with U.S. on the left side of the frame (beneath COLTS/PATENT), government inspector marks on the grips and on various metal parts. A highly detailed study “Marking Variations of U.S.N. Inspectors on Colt 1851 and M. 1861 (percussion & conversion) Revolvers” in May, 2000 “Gun Report” may play a role in adding premium values to some U.S.N. revolvers.
Brass Straps:
| 5B-056 | Values—Good $1,650 | Fine $11,500 |
Iron Straps:
| 5B-057 | Values—Good $1,850 | Fine $14,000 |
Cut for shoulder stock attachment. The same three basic types of stock attachments were made as in the Third Model Dragoon (q.v. for description). Rarest are the First and Second type attachments:
First type stocks most often observed in serial range 56,000; Second type in serial range 69,000; Third type in various ranges from 67,000 to 192,000 (see “Book of Colt Firearms” for specific numbers). Stocks with the canteen insert may be encountered in all three types. The large majority of stocks were sold to the civilian market (silver plated, brass mountings and varnish finished wood stocks standard); military models very rare (oil finished, walnut stocks standard).
Pistol:
5B-058
| 5B-058 | Values—Good $2,000 | Fine $11,500 |
Stock:
| 5B-059 | Values—Good $4,000 | Fine $9,500 |
Third type attachment, in which the pistol features a four screw frame, cutouts on the recoil shield, and (sometimes) lanyard swivels on the trigger guard strap:
Pistol:
| 5B-060 | Values—Good $1,900 | Fine $11,000 |
Stock:
| 5B-061 | Values—Good $3,750 | Fine $8,500 |
(Note: The presence of the canteen insert in the shoulder stock adds 25 percent to 50 percent of the stock’s value.)
THE LONDON MODEL 1851 NAVY revolver is quite similar to its contemporary made at Colt’s Hartford