This is good solid example of a U.S. purchased Colt 1851 Navy Revolver.  Many of these 1850's vintage US Gov't Navies went on to see use in the Civil War with Cavalry regiments.  This particular gun is a standard Model 1851 with small triggerguard, .36 Caliber, 7.5" barrel, and Hartford Barrel Address. Serial number is 79271 with all matching matching numbers although the cylinder's number has worn off from use.  Even the wedge number matches. Left side of the frame bears "U.S" under the Colt's Patent marking with two faint but visible military cartouches on each side of the grips.  Top of the barrel is marked "-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CT-. 

Condition-wise, this revolver is in NRA Antique Good condition showing lots of use of but generally a good appearance with good profiles and edges. The metal is mostly a smooth grey patina some scattered light pits here and there.  Mechanically, its perfect and as tight as new with tight barrel to frame lock-up.  Good screws throughout. Markings show wear but are almost still almost entirely legible with the exception of the cylinder which is worn with no cylinder scene remaining and has scattered pits.  Brass triggerguard and backstrap were cleaned bright some time ago and are starting to mellow out to a soft yellow.   As stated earlier, all numbers are matching which includes, barrel, frame, tg, bs, arbor pin, wedge, and loading lever.  The cylinder appears to have been with this gun its whole life so we're assuming that the numbers probably matched as well before it was worn away from use.  The grips are in good condition with good wood to metal fit and both cartouches faint but visible. 

All in all, this is just a good example of an early US martially marked 51 Navy that probably saw several years of hard use in the Civil War.  The serial number of this gun doesn't show up in the Springfield research as identified (the vast majority don't...its a very rare occurrence when something does actually show up as a match but they are still researching and new numbers get added from time to time) but still falls within range of several other known U.S. gov't owned 51 Navies listed on the Springfield Research website.note these are all identified with Cavalry units issued between 1862 and 1865.

• 79204 - 51N - 030062 - CO E 1ST CALIF VOL CAV
• (79271 THIS GUN)
• 79218 - 51N - 000062 - CO E 4TH MO VOL CAV
• 79317 - 51N - 000062 - CO E 4TH MO VOL CAV
• 79411 - 51N - 100163 - CO B 10TH ILL VOL CAV
• 79411 - 51N - 010165 - CO B 10TH ILL VOL CAV
• 79317 - 51N - 000062 - CO E 4TH MO VOL CAV
• 79411 - 51N - 100163 - CO B 10TH ILL VOL CAV
• 79411 - 51N - 010165 - CO B 10TH ILL VOL CAV

If this one could only talk!  All in all, this is just a good example of an early US martially marked 51 Navy that probably saw several years of hard use in the Civil War. 

Item# 0207

SOLD