Brass Framed 1851 Navy Colt in the Union Army?

[Harley Starr]

In The Outlaw Josey Wales, Capt. "Redlegs" Terrell is seen shooting an 1851 Navy that clearly has a brass frame. In the movie Glory, Matthew Broderick, in the assualt on Fort Wagner removes his Navy Colt and blows the sand out of the cylinder. Now the frame on his Navy is rather shiny. At first I thought it was nickel plated, but now I'm not so certain.
Seems to me that this might be Hollyweird's doing.

[St. George]

You're looking at a form of the 'John Ford Reference Library' - don't expect any sort of adherence towards historical accuracy.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Trailrider]

  Unless, of course, they were using a Confederate Leach & Rigdon, which was a brass framed copy of the '51 Colt's Navy!  There were several other Confederate sixguns that used brass (bronze) frames.  Iron was in short supply in the South, and more difficult to work with.  There were quite a few church bells that got melted down and the bronze cast into frames for revolvers.  The Spiller & Burr was another, actually a copy of the Whitney .36 cal. "Navy" revolver.  Very few S&B's were actually made.  I have a replica that will outshoot most Colt's, and keep on running when the BP fouling would tie up an original Whitney Navy after four shots!

Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year, Pards!

[Advertising]

[Major 2]

.... In the movie Glory, Matthew Broderick, in the assualt on Fort Wagner removes his Navy Colt and blows the sand out of the cylinder. Now the frame on his Navy is rather shiny. At first I thought it was nickel plated, but now I'm not so certain.
Seems to me that this might be Hollyweird's doing.

It's a lighting optical confusion    it a 2nd Gen. Navy  
How do I know ?  well, I spent 14 weeks in "89" working on the Film ...and more importantly I own the gun  

[River City John]

The Leech & Rigdon was all steel to my knowledge, except the trigger guard and grip frame. At least all that I have seen come up for auction and in museums.
The Griswold & Gunnison was a brass and steel Confederate copy of the Colt Navy.

The brass-framed Remingtons used in Ride With The Devil are fantasy guns also.
RCJ

[Harley Starr]

It's a lighting optical confusion    it a 2nd Gen. Navy  
How do I know ?  well, I spent 14 weeks in "89" working on the Film ...and more importantly I own the gun  

Well that gun has more value than I gave it credit for.

[Fingers McGee]

The Leech & Rigdon was all steel to my knowledge, except the trigger guard and grip frame. At least all that I have seen come up for auction and in museums.
The Griswold & Gunnison was a brass and steel Confederate copy of the Colt Navy.

Yep.  Leech & Rigdon was iron framed.  Griswold & Gunnison was brass (gunmetal) framed, as were the Spiller and Burr, Shawk & McLanahan, and Cofer revolvers.

[Trailrider]

Yep.  Leech & Rigdon was iron framed.  Griswold & Gunnison was brass (gunmetal) framed, as were the Spiller and Burr, Shawk & McLanahan, and Cofer revolvers.

Well, I didn't bother to check my books, so I stand disgusted!    Knew it had to be one o' them Reb pistolas!  Happy New Year, Pards!