Antique Colt 1861 Navy .38 Colt Rimfire Conversion 7.5” Revolver MFD 1861
SOLD FOR: $1,261.00
LSB#: LSB260415GW001
Make: Colt
Model: 1861 Navy
Serial Number: 2055
Year of Manufacture: 1861 / Antique (Colt Serial Number Lookup) / Richards-Mason conversions were produced between 1873-1878.
Caliber: .38 Colt Rimfire Richards-Mason Type III Conversion
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with a 6-Shot Cylinder and Loading Gate
Barrel Length: 7.5″ / Round
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-“. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. JULY. 25. 1871.” / “PAT. JULY. 2. 1872”. The left shoulder of the trigger guard is marked “36 CAL” which is the percussion-era stamp before the conversion. The barrel lug, frame, butt frame, and trigger guard are marked with the serial number. A partial serial number is visible on the cylinder. Under the backstrap, on the walnut grip, is etched with “FP”. The loading gate is marked with assembly number “3278”.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass blade soldered to the barrel. The rear sight is a V-notch in the hammer, visible when cocked.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is a one piece smooth walnut. There are handling scratches, compression dents, and material loss from wear. There is a chip out of the bottom left side. There are no cracks. Overall this grip is in Fair condition.
Type of Finish: Blued. Case Colored, Brass
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dull and the rifling is defined. There is scattered erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 5/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 10% of its finish. Most of the original finish has worn away. The remaining finish has turned to a patina. The case color is no longer vivid. There is scattered corrosion and pitting, along with scratches and compression dings throughout the metal areas. There is verdigris along the surface of the brass. The markings range from worn to legible. Overall this revolver is in Poor condition.
Mechanics: The action does not function correctly. The mainspring is missing so we were unable to do a mechanical check. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. This revolver has been fitted with the Type III Richards-Mason rimfire conversion. The loading gate has an interior spring.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Leather holster.
Our Assessment: The Colt 1861 Navy is a classic Civil War-era percussion revolver, retaining the graceful .36 caliber Navy frame size while adopting the round-barrel profile associated with Colt’s 1860 Army pattern. Originally manufactured in 1861, this revolver began life during the early Civil War period and was later adapted to metallic cartridge use through a Richards-Mason Type III rimfire conversion, a style produced between 1873 and 1878. These conversions are historically significant because they bridge Colt’s percussion era and the metallic-cartridge age, offering collectors a tangible link between antebellum revolver design and postwar cartridge development.
This Antique Colt 1861 Navy has been converted to .38 Colt Rimfire with a 6-shot cylinder, loading gate, 7 1/2″ round barrel, brass blade front sight, and hammer-notch rear sight. The revolver retains about 10% of its original finish, with most of the metal worn to patina, faded case colors, scattered corrosion and pitting, scratches, compression dings, and markings ranging from worn to legible. The one-piece walnut grip rates in Fair condition, showing handling scratches, compression dents, material loss from wear, and a chip at the bottom left side, but no cracks. The bore is dull with defined rifling and scattered erosion, rating 5/10 in this writer’s opinion. Mechanically, the revolver does not function correctly because the mainspring is missing, and a full mechanical check could not be performed. Included is a leather holster. Overall, this is a Poor condition Antique Colt 1861 Navy Richards-Mason Type III rimfire conversion with substantial age and wear, non-functioning mechanics, and strong historical appeal as an early Colt percussion revolver later adapted for metallic cartridge use. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY