need info on pistol

[suzukisam]

my father-in-law isn't much of a gun guy and he went out on a limb and bought 6 revolvers from an old man. I know what most of them are. ruger blackhawks and singles sixes and what not... but one pistol I am not well versed in. it is an 1851 colt navy .36 cal. it is not marked at all as best I can tell other than saying "italy". I have done quite a bit of research and I believe it to be a colt made in '71 it has the colt xx7 stamped in it, which appears to be the colt stamp for that year. wikipedia said a few actual colts were made in italy. I don't think it is a clone. It doesn't have any of the described stampings that the reproductions should have.

I was hoping someone could give me more info on it and a rough value. it is new unfired, as were all the guns he purchased.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

picture, proof marks, makers cartouche,

 

[mykeal]

'XX7' isn't a Colt mark, it's the Italian code for a proof date of 1971. There were no Colts made in Italy. There is a minor controversy about 2nd Generation Colts assembled in the US using some parts made in Italy during that time frame (Wilkepedia is NOT an authority, it's simply a collection of opinions, some not worth the electrons they're transmitted with). However, those revolvers were not marked with Italian proof date codes. The lack of Italian proof house marks or Italian manufacturer logos is meaningless, as many people 'defarb' clones.

 

[suzukisam]

I won't have the gun in front of me till saturday.. the only markings I know of are xx7 and italy. what proof marks should I be looking for.. this what I'm trying to find out.

 

[mykeal]

Here's a link to Dennis Adler's article on: Modern Black Powder Proofmarks

 

[suzukisam]

thanks mykeal! that will help me identify it. I was trying to get some info together that way when I get there to look at the gun for him, then I'll have a basic knowledge of what to look for. I'm afraid he bought something other than what he thinks he bought..

 

[Skinny 1950]

I have a Colt 1851 made in 1971 it is a Robert E. Lee commemorative.
All of the usual markings are on it: barrel address, serial #'s it is a great shooter and looks great in the case with the mould,flask and cap tin.