Description
Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver manufactured in 1856-1857 as part of the Ordnance Department contract for nearly 17,000 revolvers delivered to the U.S. Army between 1855 and 1859. Many of these Model 1851 “Army/Navy” revolvers were initially issued to the newly formed 1st and 2nd U.S. Cavalry regiments stationed on the Texas frontier. The U.S. contract Army/Navy revolvers remained in service throughout the Civil War. This is a very good example overall of this rare Colt handgun. All numbers match and weapon indexes well. These U.S. Contract Army/Navy Model 1851 revolvers saw heavy use on the Texas frontier and during the Civil War. Nearly all of these revolvers were issued and very few survived with significant amounts of original finish.
