Colt Model 1861 Navy .22 LR Conversion Single Action Revolver, Antique
SOLD FOR: $3,530.00
LSB#: 240517ES022
Make: Colt
Model: 1861 Navy – Converted/Customized
Serial Number: 3049
Year of Manufacture: 1861 (Colt Serial Lookup)
Caliber: Originally .36 Cap & Ball converted to .22 Long Rifle
Action Type: Open Top Percussion Revolver converted to .22 LR cartridge with modified cylinder, modified, frame, modified hammer, added ejector rod & housing and sleeved barrel.
Barrel Length: 7 1/2” Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel above the muzzle. The rear sight is a “V”-notch in the hammer spur, visible when cocked.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece smooth walnut. The grip has scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches and some minor compressions. There are a few minor handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grip is in Fine condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue and Brass
Finish Originality: Refinished.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright, the rifling is sharp. There is some stubborn fouling but no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion and for the age, this bore rates a 9 or 10 out of 10 as customized.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows nicks, scratches, patches of wear and mottled patches of surface oxidation. The cylinder is not serial-matched to the frame, barrel and trigger guard. The brass has mild tarnishing that should polish out with proper cleaning. The mechanics have been customized to convert this open-top percussion revolver into a cartridge-firing revolver. The screw heads are lightly tooled. The markings are legible. The left side frame markings are not original to the gun. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition as customized.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. We have cleaned this firearm and performed a mechanic’s check but expect many will want to clean the firearm again depending on their standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
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. In all respects, it is a great percussion revolver, but it saw limited production for a few reasons. Limited numbers were procured by the Government as there were already large purchases of the 1851 and 1860 models. After the Civil War, the civilian market was flooded with surplus weapons, limiting demand for new guns. Colt’s factory had a disastrous fire in 1864, and by then cartridge revolvers were starting to hit the market. For these reasons, 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 (though steel instead of brass) and would retain the 7 1/2″ barrel length for the Model 1873 adopted by the U.S. Army.
This is a special specimen that has been converted to fire the ubiquitous .22 long rifle cartridge. A rare combination of the nostaglic looks and fun, affordable ammunition for shooting. And, as always, an interesting addition to your collection. Please see our photos and good luck in your bidding!
-J. Ren
