I know that 99% of the discussions here are about modern pistols and revolvers of which I have a few. However, for me I think there's real beauty in the old percussion revolvers of the 19th century.

I'm fortunate to have acquired a few old Colt revolvers from the Civil War period, and I wanted to share these beauties.


New guns are fine, but there's just something about a 160+ year old gun.



From top to bottom, they are:

Model 1860 Army number 5305, circa 1860
Model 1851 Navy number 96291, circa 1860
Model 1860 Army number 56073, circa 1862
Model 1851 Navy number 55967, circa 1856
Model 1849 Hartford 6" number 181363, circa 1860
Model 1849 Hartford 5" number 181626, circa 1860
Model 1849 Hartford 4" number 176260, circa 1860

A friend who passed perhaps a decade ago, had several cased 1849s. He said Colt made over 200 variations of that revolver. I have a soft spot for the Remingtons of the same era. Would you have a Remington in your collection ?

Beautiful collection. Any plans for a 61 navy, 62 pocket police, 62 pocket navy, or any of the Root colts?

Or, you can mortgage your house and get a Walker, and the 1st-3rd model Dragoons

I have modern guns for specific functional purposes, but really enjoy the old classics especially revolvers- for single actions, colt, DA S&W.

Grew up on old westerns, so I love the single action looks. Unfortunately, I can't hit a barn door from 5 feet with a revolver. I stick to polymer 9mms and 1911s that I can actually shoot kinda ok...


I do really like how those '51 Navy revolvers look. The army grip just looks strange to me. Not quite a traditional Colt plow handle and not quite a Bisely...

The Army grip was oversized, compared to the Navy, and pretty uncomfortable. When Colt brought out the Peacemaker, they used the Navy grip design. I've had replicas of all three, and the Navy is the most comfortable and well-balanced of all.

A 51 Navy is on my grail list.

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:
The Army grip was oversized, compared to the Navy, and pretty uncomfortable. When Colt brought out the Peacemaker, they used the Navy grip design. I've had replicas of all three, and the Navy is the most comfortable and well-balanced of all.

I prefer the army grip by far. The navy/SAA leaves my pinky dangling.

Congratulations on your excellent collection. Just excellent. Thanks for sharing.

quote:

Originally posted by 1KPerDay:

I prefer the army grip by far. The navy/SAA leaves my pinky dangling.

I'm sure you're not alone, considering the popularity of the 1860 Army, to this day. I've had two, one being my first BP pistol.

My next BP will be an 1851 or 1861 Navy, to replace my 1851 that got stolen many years ago. I'm still trying to figure if it's safe to load 6 and cock the pistol from the pins between the cylinders on the "newer" models.

And, mojojojo, I'm envious of your collection as well!

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:

quote:

Originally posted by 1KPerDay:

I prefer the army grip by far. The navy/SAA leaves my pinky dangling.

I'm sure you're not alone, considering the popularity of the 1860 Army, to this day. I've had two, one being my first BP pistol.

My next BP will be an 1851 or 1861 Navy, to replace my 1851 that got stolen many years ago. I'm still trying to figure if it's safe to load 6 and cock the pistol from the pins between the cylinders on the "newer" models.

Safe is a relative term, but the pins are there for a reason and they used them in the old west, and worked fine. It's not as safe as lowering the hammer on an empty chamber, since a hard blow might jar the hammer off the pin and the bolt is not in the cylinder notch, so it might rotate and leave the hammer over a cap. But that's probably a long shot.

If you're asking if it will do damage to the revolver, it won't. Just don't lower the hammer from half cock. Just pull it back enough to rotate the cylinder, then lower the hammer onto the safety pin.

Umm, about my user name....lol

I have been shooting these guns for many years, they are very accurate and also reliable when properly cared for. I don't shoot the genuine colts but good replicas are available. Hickok carried a pair of 51 Navys and they served him well. The Colts feel better than a Remington in my hands, I practiced for a year with a Rem and took it deer hunting, it worked fine. There are also replicas of the conversion revolvers made at the end of the civil war. You can load 38s or 44s with black powder and have a blast. Colt converted the surplus cap n ball revolvers to fire rim fire cartridges to circumvent the patent that S&W held on making cartridge revolvers. That ended in 1873 and the Colt Peacemaker was available. Fascinating time for firearms...

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Awesome!!

1KPerDay, thanks for the instructional on the pins, I suspected that was why they are there, but wasn't sure.

As to 1860ARMY on reliability, I've had several Uberti replicas going back to the early 1970's, and every one of them has broken the spring that locks the cylinder (forget what it's called). I bought a replacement from MidwayUSA made by a supposedly reputable company and it was too thick to fit in my second 1860 Army. Next time, I'll just order a few replacements along with the gun! BTW, it's the same part in all the old Colts, cap and ball as well as my Peacemaker replicas.

That’s a beautiful collection of revolvers.

quote:

Originally posted by 1860ARMY:
Hickok carried a pair of 51 Navys and they served him well.

In terms of famous Colts, I remember touring the Custis-Lee mansion (Arlington National Cemetery) in about 1965, and Robert E. Lee's 1851 Navy was displayed in a case on one of the walls. A Google search shows it at the Museum of the Confederacy now.

quote:

As to 1860ARMY on reliability, I've had several Uberti replicas going back to the early 1970's, and every one of them has broken the spring that locks the cylinder (forget what it's called). I bought a replacement from MidwayUSA made by a supposedly reputable company and it was too thick to fit in my second 1860 Army. Next time, I'll just order a few replacements along with the gun! BTW, it's the same part in all the old Colts, cap and ball as well as my Peacemaker replicas.

Yes, that spring is known to break, the hand spring as well. I have been shooting them as long as you, many different models and manufacturers including Colt, I think I have had one hand and one cylinder lock spring break out of all of them. I have also had the trigger spring break once on my modern 92fs, s- happens...

If you polish the surfaces that spring engages as well as the end of the spring itself you will have smoother operation and less wear and tear, I bush grease on them when reassembling...

My reliability comment was in reference to their going boom when you fire them. The Remington action can get fouled from spent caps and the cylinder pin seems to get fouled quicker than a colt because it has no grease grooves..

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Replica Parts - Uberti

Best Place I've found....

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quote:

Originally posted by 1860ARMY:

My reliability comment was in reference to their going boom when you fire them. The Remington action can get fouled from spent caps and the cylinder pin seems to get fouled quicker than a colt because it has no grease grooves..

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My experience has been similar... my OEM Pietta Colt 1860s have proven exceptionally reliable, both firing over 100 shots in a single setting without cleaning or re-lubrication. (using real black powder)

Videos if interested:
https://youtu.be/ouYrlqvp1Uw?si=B1QCkoqYONk7ExPX

https://youtu.be/th-nAQVU37Y?si=xFUmElrCSoZ0zv_p

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
I have a soft spot for the Remingtons of the same era. Would you have a Remington in your collection ?

Actually I have 3.



From top to bottom:

Remington Beals Model 1858 Navy, circa 1861
Remington Model 1861 Army (aka Old Model), circa 1861
Remington Model 1858 Army (aka New Model), circa 1864