[TheBPfan]

Hallo!This is my first thread.I'm living in Estonia and my English is not good,sorry about that!
I wont to ask,if enione knows the twist rate of Colt Navy 51 rifling? Thanks to eweryone help!

[Old Fuff]

Welcome to the High Road. We are gld to see you, and your English is fine. But to answer your question I need to know the following.

Do you mean the original Colt 1851 Navy revolver that was made during the middle 1800's?

Or one of the many reproductions of it that are made today? If this is what you have in mind, do you know what company made the gun?

[TheBPfan]

Thanks for the interest! I mean the original Colt Navy 51.But if possible I not denie any data about this guns,including replikas.
My interest is all Colt percussion revolvers from thease years.This is my dream of life own one of them....I not mean original,they are too ekspensive for me!

[Jim K]

The original Colt 1851 Navy has left hand gain twist rifling, six lands and six grooves, equal width.

Jim

[TheBPfan]

Thanks,Jim!Do You know the twist rate of other Colt percussion revolvers?

[Old Fuff]

I am trying to find the rate of twist, which research books don't seem to specify. As Jim pointed out, Colt c&b revolvers were rifled with was was called "gain twist." At the back end the rifling started out straight, and then slowly started to turn until the full twist was reached at the muzzle. It appears that this feature was unique in revolvers made by Colt, although it was used in other firearms of that time. I suspect, but cannot yet prove, that the maximum twist was around 1 turn in 40 inches, but because of the way barrels were rifled the barrel length might be a factor.

As cartridge revolvers arrived (not counting cap & ball cartridge conversions) Colt went to a straight 1 turn in 16 inches twist.

[Jim K]

The 1860 Army has right hand twist rifling, also gain twist. AFAIK, all the other percussion Colts have left hand rifling. I am not sure why the 1860 is right hand but the older .44 guns are right hand and I expect Colt's old .44 rifling machines were set up for RH twist and it wasn't worth changing.

Fuff, Colt cartridge revolvers are, almost without exception, left hand twist, six grooves, with the lands narrower than the grooves. Not all are 1:16 twist, though. For example, per Matthews, some .38 revolvers run 1:13.8 and the New Army/Navy runs 1:17.3. Like most makers, they seem to have chosen the twist they felt necessary for accuracy with the factory ammo.

FWIW, S&W revolvers are, again almost without exception, 5 grooves, right hand, with lands and grooves of equal width. Their auto pistols are 6-R, with equal lands and grooves.

Jim

[TheBPfan]

Thanks to all of you! Wery plenty of information!I'm wery impressed.