[NobleSniper]

Hello, several months back a good friend of mine offered me a 1851 Navy Colt London marked out of his collection for a rather good price. Its a neat all matching piece and I would really like to add it to my collection. Am I correct in understanding that alot of the London marked Colt revolvers were used by the South and were brough in by England and France to benefit the Confederacy?? Thanks :D

[mykeal]

Some. Not 'a lot', I think. The blockades were quite effective.

[cyclopsshooter]

colt never made revolvers, just 1911s

[NobleSniper]

:cuss::cuss::banghead:

[Fingers McGee]

Colt's London Armory only operated from 1853 til 1857, with a total run of around 42000. With the hostilities starting 4 years after the Armory closed, I doubt that there were any shipments "brought in by England and France to benefit the Confederacy". There may have been some that made their way south prior to the war, or individual specimens that beat the blockade.

[Old Fuff]

When Colt closed the London factory the remaining parts were brought back to the United States and assembled into revolvers at Hartford. It is possible that some of these with London markings might have found they're way South before the war started.

Many "corn-fed" individuals went to war carrying their own personally owned sidearms. The next most common source - at least during the early years - was battlefield capture.