1857 Martially Marked - U.S. Colt M1851 "Army" Navy, .36 Percussion Revolver, SN - 73730

According to Colt Archives Serial Number Database, this Model 1851 Navy 36 caliber percussion revolver was produced in 1857. Known to collectors as the "Army" Navy Model, this gun was part of a contract with the U.S. Ordnance Department for approximately 20,000 revolvers in the 42,000-80,000 serial number range. These "Army" Navy Models were issued to the 1st and 2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiments in 1858, and subsequently replaced the Colt M1848 Dragoon Revolver as the standard handgun for the Dragoons and U.S. Mounted Rifles prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. MARKINGS: "COLTS PATENT/ U.S." on the left side of the frame (martially marked), "ADDRESS SAM L COLT NEW YORK CITY" on the top of the barrel, "C" inspectors stamp on the left side of the trigger guard strap, "K" inspectors stamp on the left side of the trigger guard, "S" inspectors stamp on the top of the barrel after the address, "M" inspectors stamp on the front strap rear of the trigger guard, inspectors cartouche on the left grip (very faint, not legible), "73730" on butt/ trigger guard strap/ frame/ barrel lug & "3730" (partial) on the loading lever and "COLTS PATENT NO. 2647" (very faint) on the cylinder - any roll engraved cylinder scenes are no longer present. SPECS: 7.5" Octagon barrel, smooth walnut grips, brass straps/ trigger guard and dovetailed blade front sight. CONDITION: This gun is showing age and has lost all bluing, but mechanically seems to be very solid with smooth 3-click timing and in good working order. ASSESMENT/ HISTORY: U.S. Contract "Army" Navy Revolvers are rarely found. The majority of the martially marked US "Army" are 3rd Model revolvers with small brass trigger guards, a wide capping cut out in the recoil shield and a narrow lever catch. While the US Navy specifically requested iron backstraps and trigger guards for their Model 1851 revolvers, the Army accepted the standard brass backstraps and trigger guards on their guns. Many of the early Model 1851 Navies that were delivered to the Army were issued to the newly formed 1st and 2nd Cavalry regiments, who used them to good effect, fighting hostile natives on the western plains. Some 7,800 Colt Navy revolvers had been issued for use by troops in the field by the end of fiscal year 1859 (ending June 30 of that year). Additionally, some 2,000 were issued to the various states under the Militia Act of 1808, with the three largest batches going to Indiana (who receiving 250 in September, 1857), New Hampshire (who received 300 in October, 1857) and Texas (who received 368 in August, 1858). Of course, the Model 1851 Navy-Armies remained in use during the American Civil War as well, with at least fifty-six US and volunteer regiments being armed with the .36 Colt revolvers. These included the 1st, 3rd, 4th & 6th US Cavalry, the 1st Arkansas Volunteer Cavalry, 9 regiments of Illinois Volunteer Cavalry (1st-3rd, 6th, 8th-11th & 13th), 1st-3rd & 10th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, 6 regiments of Kansas Volunteer Cavalry (5th-7th, 9th, 11th & 15th), 6 regiments of Michigan Cavalry (1st-4th, 7th & 9th) and 5 regiments of New York Volunteer Cavalry (1st, 5th, 6th, 10th & 11th), just to name a few.