EXTREMELY EARLY PRODUCTION 1851 NAVY .36 CALIBER REVOLVER, serial number 9215. According to Colt serial number listings by year, this number is shown to indicate a first year manufacture date of 1851. This is a most attractive example with all serial numbers matching- barrel, frame, trigger guard, back strap, arbor, cylinder and even the wedge. The one piece walnut grips are excellent and fit perfectly. The cylinder scene depicting a naval battle is fine and all intact. The screws are also excellent and the back strap retains most of the silver plating with brass showing through only at the bottom edge and a small spot behind the hammer at the top. The butt shows over half of the silver and the front strap retains all the silver but for a small area the trigger guard bow which also holds most of the silver with brass showing by the trigger guard serial number. The 7 ½” octagon barrel is an uncleaned very aged blue mixing brown patina with clear colt address markings, “-ADDRRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-. The cylinder, frame and rammer are an attractive, uncleaned gray/brown. Action is tight and fully functional, bore is fine with sharp rifling, “36 CAL” marking on the left side of the trigger guard (which retains silver) along with “COLTS PATENT” on the left side of the frame. This is a great example of a super early 1851 Navy revolver. Most of these went to the California Gold fields, the Civil War or to the Wild West where they saw heavy usage. Wild Bill Hickock was known to carry a pair of 1851 Colt Navy revolvers and many Pony Express Riders relied on them for protecting the mail and their own lives. Considered one of the best balanced and most attractive of the percussion Colt line of revolvers, the 1851 was often carried and used well into the cartridge firing revolver years of the 1870s and 1880s. An all matching, early example like this is especially rare. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check. For a complete representation of condition and for additional images please call 800-686-4216. It is the buyer’s responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition.