Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver and Original Sim Jim Holster

[Shotgun Steve]

Colt Model 1851 Navy Percussion Revolver 36 cal Bore VG, Mech VG plus, Original wood grips plus with 10% original varnish. The 7 ½" oct barrel has a one line colt New York address and some muzzle wear from a holster. The frame has an excellent colts patent marking and 36 cal marked on the triggerguard. Serial#175388 matching including the wedge. Metal overall has an aged grey finish with some fine pitting in areas. The cylinder has 50% scene. Has a original old west slim jim holster included.

[kflach]

What is "50% scene?"

[Roscoe Coles]

The holster looks like it might be a cut down military holster rather than an "original slim-jim".  On the front there is a hole where a stud for the flap hold down was and there is some stitching around it that indicates that something was sewn on it at one time (a reenforcement ?).  Also, there is an extra rivet hole and mark on the belt loop.  Still an interesting holster and cutting down a military holster must have been very common after the war when the gun and the surplus holster would have been fairly cheap and common.

[Dr. Bob]

kflach,

The cylinder of the revolver had a Naval scene roll engraved on it.  About 50% of it remained.  Gun collector jargon!

[Deadeye Don]

That gun has some stories to tell!!

[kflach]

Thanks Dr. Bob!

[Texas Lawdog]

Kflach, I have my GG uncle's 51 Navy that he carried in the CW and afterwards in the Powder River campaigns. I have most of the original holster, minus the flap.

[ChuckBurrows]

On the front there is a hole where a stud for the flap hold down was and there is some stitching around it that indicates that something was sewn on it at one time (a reenforcement ?).  Also, there is an extra rivet hole and mark on the belt loop.

IMO - the loop was moved from one side to the other. That hole in the belt loop above the current rivet matches exactly with the hole in the holster on the other side as does also the stitching holes (the powers of Photoshop.... ) therefore the remaining hole wasn't for a flap stud.
On the other hand if you look closely at the top holster image you can see on the inside what appears to be a rivet (the upper bit of metal showing just to the left of the holster's lip) which was added when the loop was moved to that side and just below that there is what appears to be a well patinaed piece of metal which is most likely the remnants of a flap stud base - it can't be seen from the outside since the belt loop now covers that area.
Flap cut away and top edge re-shaped? - very likely. Military? being that it was dyed black, an uncommon color for civilian gear of the era, is a good indication, but without further evidence one can't say for sure.
I don't have a lot of info on early miltary leather (either Federal, State, or Territorial) and what little I do have, none of it shows that loop position - perhaps one of the military inclined members could take a look and offer some input as to a possible candidate with that belt loop position.

Also when they moved the belt loop they re-attached it so it would fit a wider belt - not only is the new rivet placed lower down but the stitching does not go all the way to the ends of the old holes, only as far as the top edge of the new rivet. The original loop position appears to be for about a 1.5-1.75" belt width and the new maybe a 2.5" belt width - the original width being perhaps another indicator of origin?

Nice piece whatever........ Thanks Steve........

[Roscoe Coles]

The standard military holster was a strong side butt forward design.  As such, if you just cut the flap off it would still be butt forward (which this is not).  It looks like the original belt loop was removed (it matches the stitching on the "front" perfectly) and riveted back onto the other side to make it a strong side butt to the rear holster.  Notice that the loop is not stitched but it shows signs of having been stitched, which indicates reuse.

As for the rivet seen inside?  I think thats just the rivet holding the top of the belt loop.