GR-0924-6269, Colt M-1851 Navy (Black Navy) with military conversion to .38 CF, 6 shot. This is an iron backstrap navy with faint US stamped on the frame, with patent dates over stamping it. It shows about 25% scene, mottled dark gray with strong flashes of original blue in protected places on the barrel and ejector rod housing. The frame retains just flashes of original case color. Serial number 61xxx matches on the barrel, frame, trigger-guard and back of the cylinder, which is correct for these factory conversions. The gun was made in 1856 and in the range where the US military was making 1851 Navys for the US military. This gun has no visible sub inspector marks and no grip cartouche, the grips were often replaced when the guns were converted. So the gun was either made for the Navy or a civilian overrun. The grips are original grips, but slightly undersized, they do not appear sanded or lightly cleaned. The serial number on the side of the cylinder does not match but the number stamped on the back of the cylinder does. This is often the case with these conversions. The barrel address, US stamp on the frame and cylinder scene are slightly weak, I believe this is due to when the gun was converted the gun had to have been cleaned. I am very surprised there is no USN mark on this gun. Very good exterior. The bore is bright, shiny, and crisply rifled with a few fine spots. Fine bore. Crisp tight mechanics.

I read through the 51 Navy book on these conversions, this gun is in the serial number range of the first batch of 51 Navies that were shipped to the US Navy in 1856-1857. The book also talked about how many of the guns in this first batch were put together with Colt Parts from the London factory. This gun is one of those, the trigger-guard and back-strap were parts originally made in the London factory, when the factory closed, the extra parts were all brought back to the Colt factory in New York. They did not waste parts back. I believe the ejector rod and thumb piece are not original. They look too new. There may have once been a USN mark or stamp somewhere on this gun, but if there was it has since been cleaned off. To my knowledge this gun would have had to be sent to Colt from the Navy to Colt to be converted. Colt would use the parts to manufacture the contracted amount of guns ordered. I would assume Colt would have the extra guns and parts to do what they want with. They would sell the extra guns on the civilian market is what I would assume. This may be something like that. Nonetheless any black navy with a US stamp is a very desirable gun and hard to find.

Est. Retail Value: $2500