Make: Colt

Model: 1861 Navy

Serial Number: 1274

Year of Manufacture: 1861

Caliber: .36

Action Type: Single Action Percussion Revolver

Barrel Length: 7 1/2"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade. The rear sight is a notch in the hammer.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece smooth walnut. The grip has scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches, most notable on the bottom. There are no chips or cracks. The fit of the grip to the grip frame indicates refinish or replacement. Overall, the grip is in about Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Brass

Finish Originality: The frame has been refinished. Other finish appears Original, numbered parts are matching.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 30% of its current metal finish. Most remaining finish is in the frame's new bluing and the grip frame's brass. The iron parts show scattered surface erosion. There are scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range form tool marked with strong slots to disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this revolver is in about Good condition as partially refinished Antique.

Mechanics: The creeping-lever mechanism does not work properly and the lever assembly can be removed from the frame without tools. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes with a Colt Archives letter and other documentation (see Our Assessment).

Our Assessment: The Colt 1861 Navy revolver was an update to the earlier 1851 model, incorporating the round barrel and creeping loading lever of the 1860 Army. Limited numbers were procured by the Government as there were already large purchases of the 1851 and 1860 models. Despite the quality of the design, there were fewer than 40,000 produced between 1861 and 1873 when the model was discontinued. It would, however, have an influence on the Single Action Army, which had a similar grip frame and would retain the 7 1/2" barrel length for the Model 1873 adopted by the U.S. Army.

This example is of particular interest to collectors as it falls into the range of what are called "Confederate contraband" by some. A series of at least four shipments of 50 Model 1861 Navy revolvers were shipped to C.B. Colton, Collector of the Post in Louisville, Kentucky in mid-late 1861. There is some allegation that Colton was re-selling these revolvers to Confederates, at rather steep prices, but there are no records of a contemporary accusation or prosecution. Upon occupation by the Union Army under William T. Sherman, there are contemporary reports of arms seizures and other enforcement actions, but as yet no one has come up with the purported Special Order No. 67 of October 31, 1861, specifically ordering arms seizure from Colton, though it has been referenced repeatedly by collectors.

Even more interesting, the Colt Archives letter indicates that this revolver shipped to C.B. Colton September 7, 1861 in a shipment of 50 revolvers, but their records indicate purchase by newspaper editor George D. Prentice. Judging by his writings, Prentice was an ardent Unionist, promoting Kentucky's neutrality as a hedge against joining the Confederacy than any truly neutral feelings. Prentice was clearly a man of some influence given that, though both of his sons joined the Confederate Army, he was able to get permission from both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis to cross the battle lines to attend the trial of his son in Richmond, VA and was later able to have his son paroled from a Union prison camp by order of Lincoln himself.

The search for Sherman's Order No. 67 continues through archives and private collections to this day, and collector interest in the "Confederate contraband" Colts continues apace. This example would make a wonderful addition to a Civil War collection and may help in future research of this fascinating period of Louisville's history. Please see our photos and good luck!