Product Description
CRIMEAN WAR BRITISH MILITARY LONDON COLT 1851 NAVY .36 Antique
c1854 BROAD ARROW/WD, LONDON ADDRESS
Here we present an antique British Military Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver with the London barrel address, made circa 1854 in London, England. The U.S. Hartford factory was firmly established, and sales were exceedingly good for Samuel Colt. So, Colt’s thoughts began to drift towards his possible share of the English gun market, and in 1853 he established a factory in London which produced thousands of examples of this model for the British forces in the Crimean War. The London factory closed in 1856 when sales were not forthcoming and the Hartford factory continued to make guns for export as well as the domestic market.
The 1851 Navy was one of Colt’s most famous and successful lines, reaching a production total of 257,348 from 1850 to 1873 (right up to the time of SAA production) from both Hartford and London factories.
This example likely saw use in the Crimean War. The Crimean War was fought between October of 1853 and February of 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdon, and Sardinia-Piedmont. The Crimean War was one of the first conflicts in which military forces used modern technologies such as explosive naval shells, railways, and telegraphs. The war was also one of the first to be documented extensively in written reports and in photographs. The war quickly became a symbol of logistical, medical and tactical failures and of mismanagement. The reaction in Britain led to a demand for professionalization of medicine, most famously achieved by Florence Nightingale, who gained worldwide attention for pioneering modern nursing while she treated the wounded.
The Crimean War marked a turning point for the Russian Empire. The war weakened the Imperial Russian Army, drained the treasury and undermined Russia’s influence in Europe. The empire would take decades to recover. Russia’s humiliation forced its educated elites to identify its problems and to recognize the need for fundamental reforms. They saw rapid modernization as the sole way to recover the empire’s status as a European power. The war thus became a catalyst for reforms of Russia’s social institutions, including the abolition of serfdom and overhauls in the justice system, local self-government, education and military service.
The overall condition is good+. The barrel has been stretched approximately the 2” at the muzzle and the barrel refinished. There is a small amount of original blue finish on the frame and an even patina throughout. The left side of the barrel has the British War Department marking and broad arrow. The numbers on the barrel, frame, cylinder, wedge, and arbor match, with the rammer having a different number and the trigger guard and grip frame having somewhat lighter numbers that cannot be completely made out. We believe that this revolver underwent armory refurbishement during its military career and several parts were exchanged at that time. The action is excellent. The bore is in good condition. The walnut grip is solid and was shored up long ago (see the small dark spot on either side).
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 7-1/2 inches.
Caliber: .36 Percussion
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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$2500
#233637