[Cronus]

I'm looking for anyone's input on what I should look for in a second inspection of a Colt 1851 Navy that I'm interested in purchasing. My guns are 100 to 150years older and revolvers are unfamiliar to me but this one has become available. I've looked it over and it's in functioning order but I didn't know what to look for. The seller knows nothing about it as it belonged to her husband, now deceased. I know from it's 130XXX serial number it's a middle fourth model manufactured in 1862. The serial numbers agree on the backstrap, trigger guard and frame (and all are sharp). The address of Col. Sam Colt etc. on the barrel is not bad.

I didn't see a naval scene on the cylinder as I didn't know to look for it so if it's there it's faint or gone. I see references online about safety pins and what they do but here again I didn't know what to look for. I don't know if they exist and still don't know what to look for as they're not visible on any diagrams I can find. The grips are beautiful and bluing is non-existant. The NRA ANTIQUE FIREARM CONDITIONS STANDARDS suggest the condition is good and perhaps very good if all parts are original (I've yet to thoroughly examine the cylinder for a serial number).

So,
1) what should I look for when I go back Wednesday?
2) what do safety pins look like?
3) did all Colt 1851's have a navy scene on the cylinder?
4) should the cylinder have a serial number and should it agree with the rest of the gun nos. or were they often mismatched for fast reloading reasons?
5 what should I look for in a bore and how do you examine such a small bore as .36 cal. (I'm accustom to looking at a .70 bore on a flintlock which is easy)?
6) How does an asking price of $1200.00CDN sit with what little I can tell you in the above info?
7) I'm pretty sure I saw a patent number somewhere are there any other markings I should be looking for.
8) what should I look for in condition?
9) what should I look for in play i.e. trigger, revolver, spring, loading leader?
10) What should I be wary of (other than little old ladies who say I know nothing and yet know enough to price her Army and Navy Colt differently)?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. I have Flintlock pistols as well as old
Percussion and a Colt Army or Navy would be a nice transitional cap n ball model. She also has a $1500.00CDN 1859 Army (Mfd. 1861) with matching serial numbers, minor pitting in a small area but My books and online reference material threw me all over the place with values. I'm interested in it but.................


Thanks, Doug

[Calibre44]

Hi Doug

You ought to post this on the Blackpowder Shooting section of THR. (or ask a Mod to move it there)

I’m sure you’ll get some great advice there.

[TimRB]

"I’m sure you’ll get some great advice there."

That said, if you rely on the advice you get on an internet forum to guide you through the purchase of a 1200 dollar 1862 revolver, you're out of your mind.

Tim

[Vonderek]

Strange reply^^
Actually that's what makes the internet such a useful tool...networking with people who are more expert than ourselves for advice and education. I think most of us are intelligent enough to discern between good advice and bad advice.

[Poprivit]

I've got a 1851 Colt. My advice is to get an expert to look at it. There's no hurry in the old gun business. If the seller is impatient, or won't let anyone inspect it ... then he has an original Leaverite, as in "leave her right there." I've seen $500 Navys and I've seen $5,000 Navys. if you don't know what you're looking at, your libel to end up with what you don't want.

[madcratebuilder]

This site well get you started. The pins are between the nipples on the back of the cylinder. You can rest the hammer on the pins, small hole in face of hammer, as a safety devise.
Look for pitting in the barrel and cylinder chambers, look at the face of the hammer. You can buy most of the small replacement parts. Do you plan to shoot it or just display it?
The cylinder should have a roll engraved naval scene, It should have 'COLTS PATENT No' followed by the serial #. Below that it should have 'Engraved by W. L. Ormsby New York' Look for 'ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843' around the front edge of the cylinder. These may be very faint, a magnifying glass helps.


http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin/show_inventory.php?catID=13&subcatID=150

[owlhoot]

And you need to know that it is fairly easy to counterfeit both Army and Navy Colts.