Colt Civilian Model

[Blue Brick]

I was under the impression that the Civilian model was a Pietta idea, guess not.

The revolver has the Colt high polish commercial blue finish on the barrel and cylinder, color casehardened loading lever, frame and hammer and silver-plated brass trigger guard and back strap. The one-piece walnut grip is varnished and has the high polish "piano finish".

http://www.rockislandauction.com/viewitem/aid/55/lid/3179

 

[Tommygunn]

No, the linked article is correct; "civilian" versions had the TG & BS silver plated.
After the Civil War a lot of military versions with standard brass TGs & BSs found their way into civilian hands and thus both types would be encountered amongst the civilian populace.

 

[Fingers McGee]

No, the linked article is correct; "civilian" versions had the TG & BS silver plated.

Not exactly. All Colt's revolvers could be had with either brass, plated, or blued iron BS & TG (with the exception that the 1860 only came with blued steel BS). The Army bought pistols with Brass BS/TG while the Navy bought pistols with blued iron BS/TG.

The thing that differentiates a 'Military' vs 'Civilian' pistol is the US on the frame under the Colt's Patent stamp.

Current collector/replica maker terminology calls the pistols that have 4 screw frames cut for the shoulder stock 'Military Models' and those not cut 'Civilian Models'. There were very few revolvers made that were cut to accept the shoulder stock; and, other than a couple hundred (?) 3rd model Dragoon pairs with shoulder stocks that wee bought by the Army around 1858, The US Government didn't buy any. It was not a very popular option.

 

[Berkley]

-Colt: An American Legend, R.L. Wilson


-Colt Firearms, 1836-1960, James E. Serven

 

[Fingers McGee]

Sorry for the confusion, I was only speaking of the 1851 Navies. That was the RI listing that was referenced.

The 1860s are a whole other genre.

Even so, carbine stocks were advertised and available on on the civilian market. It wasn't just the Army.

 

[Berkley]

I was only speaking of the 1851 Navies.

Sorry, I completely missed that.

 

[Fingers McGee]

Berkley, Thanks for the info you provided though. Made me go look up infor on the 1860s. I've got some of Wilson's books; but not Severn's. Guess I need to get it. I looking through a couple books I do have, found out that the cut for shoulder stock was the 'regular model' and that uncut models were special orders. Also found that only about 15% of the 1860s had 4 screw frames. Somewhere around SN 30,000, colt changedover to all 3 screw frames to reduce the production costs. Also read that the idea of a carbine pistol declined markedly due to the number of different carbines being produced.

 

[Old Fuff]

Colt continued to make the 1860 Army model after the Civil War until 1872, or about 7 years. Most of the so-called civilian models were made during this period. Unless ordered otherwise the frame and backstrap were not notched to take a shoulder stock, and the barrel and cylinder sported a highly polished "trade finish" blue that wasn't used on military production. The backstrap and trigger guard were silver plated and the stocks (if wood) were varnished, not oiled. These standards were identical to those used on Colt commercial revolvers before the war.

Present day reproductions may or may not duplicate the original.