.36 caliber. 7.5" octagonal barrel. SN: 75175 (mfg. ca. 1857). Blued and color casehardened finish, brass triggerguard and backstrap, smooth one-piece walnut grip. Single action percussion revolver with six-chambered unfluted cylinder, toggle link loading lever, hammer nose notch rear sight and brass cone front sight. Barrel with one-line "NEW-YORK CITY" address, cylinder with Ormsby roll engraved naval battle scene with mostly legible "ENGAGED ON..." marking along the front edge. Frame with two-line "COLT'S / PATENT" marking over "U.S." All visible serial numbers match, including the wedge, arbor and loading lever. The left grip is stamped with a weak script "MM" cartouche in an oval, the mark of sub-inspector Miles Moulton and the right grip is marked with a stronger script "WAT" for Ordnance Officer William Anderson Thornton. The usual single letter Colt factory and US military sub-inspection marks are found throughout.

The US military acquired 16,778 Colt Model 1851 Navy revolvers under some 14 different contracts, circa 1855-1857, with this gun likely being part of the May 13, 1857 contract. A very solid example of a difficult US martial revolver to find with any level of condition. {ANTIQUE}

Very Good+ to Near Fine. Bore partly bright with moderate oxidation and some scattered pitting. Metal with some nice traces of blue and case colors in protected areas with the majority of the finish having worn or faded but leaving a pleasant dull bluish-gray patina in the areas of loss. Markings remain clear and crisp in the metal with a nice cylinder scene and good, legible markings overall. Cartouches weak. Mechanically functional action. Grip good to very good, lightly sanded leaving the cartouches weak and with some scattered light handling marks.