I finally shot my 2nd Gen Unfired 1851 Colt Navy.

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

 
I did it, I did it! I got the nerve up to shoot my 2nd Gen. 1851 Colt Navy this morning. This gun was previously unfired. It is a sweet shooter and she performed flawlessly, didn't even hang up on the one spent cap that got in the works and several spent caps stayed on the nipple after firing. I had her stoked with a hunting loads. Her action, after some preliminary stoning when I first got her, is great.

Now I gotta get another 2nd Gen. to keep her company. I may shoot her and my Pietta '51 Navy  Sunday at our CAS match. This was so much fun! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Yep I had her loaded in all six. Carried on one of the safety pins.

Yep I think I'm in love..... she shoots where she points too.

[Dusty Morningwood]

Well Charlie, let's hope my new acquisition performs as well.  I will post a report when I have it in hand and get a chance to shoot it.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Well Charlie, you certainly blew it. The value is now only $100. BUT, because I am your buddy I'll give you $150 and even send you a UPS pickup tag!! Deal? 

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

Thanks for the offer. I'll keep her thank you!
NAW I'll buy another one and shoot it too, then I'll have a pair. I can't get over how seet she works. SMOOOOTH!

I spent a couple hours cleaning her and oiling her up.
I use Virgin Olive Oil for almost everything in my BP guns. I strongly agree that petroleum based products and BP do not mix.

I did make a mistake when buying cheap(read Dollar Store) Olive Oil in a small bottle. I neglected to read that it was mixed 50% with Canola oil...this was a BAAAAAD, BAAAAAD, THINNNGGGGG! The MIX becomes like glue. So I have had to clean and re-oil all my BP guns today!
Don't buy 50-50% Olive and Canola Oil. it gets STICKY! very quickly...as does toasted or plain sesame oil.

[Fox Creek Kid]

How's the POA on this gun? The 2nd Gens. were made before the real advent of CNC machinery and some early Italian cap 'n balls (like original Colts) sometimes shot six inches or better to a side.

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

Well from the grouping on the boulder I shot at I'd say it shoots pretty much poa. I just shot one cylinder full, just to clear it so I could get that Darned Canola Oil glue off and out of it.
I put the bead on the little crack I could see and let her go. Iit is all grey(lead) around that crack now. BTW I didn't use the rear sight notch, just covered the crack with the bead like I would a shotgun. The boulder is at CAS range.

[Fox Creek Kid]

The boulder is at CAS range.

So, that's "minute of boulder" accuracy then Charlie?    I couldn't resist! 

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Halfway....
Since you finally got up the nerve to shoot your second generation Colt, I thought you'd like to see mine. It hasn't been shot as yet, but I'm thinking about breaking it in at the NCOWS National shoot next month....it would be sacrilegious to shoot it at a SASS shoot... Ain't it purdy??

Bill

Colt, 1851 Second Generation...unfired..as of now. Click on right mouse key to enlarge.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Bill, I thought all 2nd Gen. '51 Navies were squareback TG's? 

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Nope....Not all of em...

Bill

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

OCB,
Yep it is. Hey You know a Sass shooter in your area near Mooresville.  Jim Horton? He used to be a school Principal there and he and I raised and showed Rabbits all around Indiana, Ill. Ohio, and KY. I have lost touch with him. He collects Ruger Vaquero's and the like.

I'm taking my 2nd Gen to the CAS shoot tomorrow along with a Pietta "51, My Original Transition Remy NMA, a Pietta NMA, and both my original Remy NMA Conversions. (for Backup). 

I'll have to look it up, but I think it was just the "C' and maybe the "F" Series 2nd Gen that were 1st Model's (squareback TG).
Can't get the Bluebook website to come up tonight, so I'll have to wait to look it up.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Halfway....
I think (for what it's worth) that the color case on these guns is some of the nicest that you can find on a revolver....

No, I've never met him and I've lived in this area since 1977, don't know too many SASS shooters around here anyway....if he had an alias I might recognize that...Do you....or did you live in this area at one time?

Bill

[Flint]

Looks to me like a 4 screw frame, notice the shoulder stock cuts in the recoil shield, and the heel of the gripframe.  These shoulder stock 51's were fairly rare in the original Colts, more rare than on the 1861s, but even the 4 screw 1861s were not as common as the Italian makers would lead you to believe.

Notice also that the triggerguard and backstrap are both steel, like the 1861 and the London Navies.  I didn't know the 2nd gen made this variation either, all I have seen used the silver poated small squareback triggerguard.  Interesting variation.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Yes it is a four screw frame.....from what I understand, there were less then 25 of these made when they made the second generation colts..

The back strap and trigger guard are steel...... I've only seen two others like this one, one of which I tried to buy and the guy looked at me like I was crazy....... I bought this gun two years ago at a gun show up in Crown Point Indiana for $100.00., Even though it didn't have a box I knew what it was......I think I got a bargain.

Bill

[gotzguns]

bill, i've been shooting second gen. colts for years and there the only c/b pistols i own now. sold all that other junk they call pistols, and have never looked back. have every model that they made and shoot them all. try making combustable cartridges for them . they load fast and shoot very clean. the 1860 army is a real joy to shoot. need any info on any of them let me know. later, gotzguns

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

Here's the scoop on the round TG 2nd Gen(don't know about the 4 screw thing) but still it is a rare gun.

1851 NAVY "C" SERIES (ROUND TRIGGER GUARD)
- .36 cal. perc., 7.5 in. octagon barrel, hinged loading lever and six shot cylinder with roll engraved naval battle scene, "C" Series Royal Blue barrel and cylinder, color case hardened frame, loading lever, plunger, and hammer, silver plated or solid brass backstrap and round trigger guard, one-piece walnut stocks. Round trigger guard revolvers were produced in very small quantities in several serial number ranges within the primary "C" Series 1851 Navy range (4201-25099). Approx. 100 mfg.

OCB.
he lived in Morgantown and was principal of the combined elementarty school in the area. I lived in Indy just south of Fort Ben. Was raised in Redkey north of Muncie and spent the 70's  buckskinning, in Friendship Indiana for the shoots. Went to Fort Quiautanon (sic )for the Feast of the Hunters moon a few times. Raised the rabbits and showed them in the late 80's and early 90's when I lived in Indy.

BTW the 2nd Gen is broke in now. I shot 4 stages today with it and the Pietta '51 the Colt Rocks and I can shoot it duelist style with no problems. it never jammed a cap or did anything but just shoot where I pointed it. The Pietta did good too. but in a different way. It too is smooth, but doesn't hold a candle to the Colt.

I'm in trouble now. I got 4 Remy's whining that they didn't get shot today (it was the plan to rotate between 4 C &B guns...didn't happen. First stage I shot clean and did my personal best for just shooting pistols on ten targets. 30 Seconds/clean.
Now in bigger trouble, I'm looking for another 2nd gen to match this one. I have to say I have never shot a smoother pistol than this one. Those that don't know say that they are only Uberti parts.....I beg to differ. 2nd Gen's Rock!

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Halfway.....
I've been going to Queotenon since 1973, used to set up with Louis Pontiac and Eli (Little Elk) Thomas, they used to sell their photographs to the tourists.

As far as the Colt,
The Serial # on this one is 73xxx (low three remaining digits). The address across the top reads...-ADDRESS COL SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA- The L in SAML is under struck. Blued steel back strap and trigger guard. Frame and back strap cut for a shoulder stock.

Bill

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

OCB
Yepper You got an early one and a rare one to boot. I'm looking for another 4 digit 2nd Gen 1st Model to match mine. I might settle for a 5 digit one too........until I come across the 4 digit. If they are all as smooth as mine then they are something to right home about.
That info was from the Blue Book on Modern Blackpowder arms.

I was the little fat guy with a real skinny flinter and an 18ft tipi near the Buffalo Cow and Calf pen the first year I went. That Buffalo Cow Darn near tore the pen down when some kids started pestering her calf that year. I ran with the crowd in the Muncie area. I knew Al Hoftsman (sic) aka Chief Spotted Deer from Ft. Wayne. He'd put one over on a tourist now and again too.

My first wife and I belonged to a Native Indian Dance club in the area and I cannot recall the name. Brings back memories. I miss Indiana in the spring time. Miss the smell of hickory in the air when you pass a woods. Don't miss the winters though.

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Halfway,
Probably the Tecumseh Lodge...they used to hold an open pow-wow in Tipton Indiana every year and still do. Mostly a hobbiest group & order of the arrow types.

I was the vice chairman of the Inter tribal Council of Indians of Indiana , and the American Indian Council vice chairman in the early 1980's, thats how I know some of these people. This past year I ran for assistant chief of our tribal council in Michigan.....

On the Colt....I'm gonna break down and get the letter for it. If I understand correctly you can get a letter for the second generations because Colt considers them to be genuine Colts.

Bill

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

OCB,
Thats right it was the Tecumseh Lodge! We were members for awhile and that is what we found also. But it was fun and I did learn to dance a little. Cow on a crutch......maybe.

I understand that you can get letters on 2nd Gens too. I might do that too.. I just read a post from Major2 that they had a 4 digit 2nd Gen like mine and only 200 numbers or so away, but they're asking $880.00 for it, I believe that was in Jan. I must have stolen mine then, cause I paid 450.00 and got the gun , unturned and unfired in a persentation case with all the goodies. The goodies weren't Colt, but I still got a great deal.

If they only made 100 of the round TG and 25 of the 4 screw frames....then it's a keeper for sure.......Don't know that I could shoot that one.....maybe.....yeah I'd have too.