Nathan L. Swayze's '51 Colt Navies Questions About

[expat_alaska]

I just bought a long desired copy of Swayze's treatise (copyright and original printing 1967: not a reprint). I have seen copies online up to $350+ for a pristine copy. It in very good condition (no binding or any other problems) for <$70 and it is a very good source of information.

As I am very interested in 2nd Model Squareback Navies and have a Pietta 1851 Navy .36 squareback for a poorman's representative, I am interested in the info below.

This book has only one annotation from a previous owner, and it appears on page 35, to wit:



Do any one of you folks have a clue what the annotation concerns?

 

[Old Fuff]

The terms, 1st Model and 2nd Model were not something Colt used. What we call the 1851 Navy the factory cataloged as the "Belt Model" until the 1861 Navy was introduced. After that the 1851's were called Old Belt Model," and the 1861 became the "New Belt Model." Within a model Colt simply phased in changes without making particular note of them.

Later collectors and researchers noticed that changes had occurred, and came up with the names such as 1'st Model and examined examples in various collections to determine the serial number range in which a 1'st Model would expect to be in. This was not particularly precise, and available records were of little or no help.

As time passes and more research is done what was previously thought to be rock bedded has sometimes turned out to be questionable. The only sure thing you can bet on is that the company never scrapped any parts that could be used, or refurbished and used.

In a general sense you can follow the progression of changes, such as the shape of trigger guards, but it is next to impossible to nail them down to exact serial number ranges.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

The previous owner of the book must have had knowledge of one or more 2nd model squareback navies manufactured during or after 1870 with serial numbers above 4200.

That knowledge presumably would not have been available to the book's author before going to press.

 

[Fingers McGee]

I believe it concerns the 2nd Generation 1851 Navies being manufactured in the 1970s (not 1870s) with serial numbers starting at 4201 - when the original 2nd Model 1851 Navies stopped at 4200.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

I bow to your better eyesight Fingers.

After your post I enlarged the date.

It actually looks like "1470" but is definitely not 1870.

I hate getting OLD!!!