1851 Colt Navy Revolver

Five shot Colt Revolver, with “COLT’S PATENT No. 187716” stamped on cylinder and “187716” on bottom of grip, trigger guard, barrel, and frame. Engraved scene on cylinder is worn. The Colt 1851 Navy Revolver was a .36 caliber, six-shot, single-action cap-and-ball revolver designed by Samuel Colt and introduced in 1851, becoming one of the most widely used handguns of the mid-19th century; it featured an open-top frame, a typically 7.5-inch barrel, and was loaded manually with black powder, ball, and percussion caps for each chamber. Though called “Navy,” it was not strictly a naval service weapon but rather a popular civilian and military sidearm, especially among officers during the American Civil War who purchased it privately. Known for its balance, relatively light weight compared to larger Colt revolvers, and fast handling, it became a favorite on the frontier and was produced in large numbers in both U.S. and London factories, ultimately serving as a key transitional design between early percussion revolvers and later metallic-cartridge firearms. .