2nd Gen. 51 Navy arrived today

[Dusty Morningwood]

Got the 2nd Gen. 51 today.  Overall in excellent unfired condition.  No box or papers.  Made in 1975.  Some very minor scuffs on blue, all near muzzle.  The silver has been tarnished and may have even lost some plate due to handling and not wiping down properly.  Looks like it may have sat in some kind of presentation mount in the open.  Dust in the chambers.  Came out of an estate.  Backstrap is engraved "Presented to (name withheld) from the Maker".  Not the name from the estate (He has gone to his maker  ).  Hmmm.  Fit and finish is very smooth, but I do not have my Uberti out to compare right now.  Will post pics later.  Can't wait to shoot it.

[Deadeye Dick]

They're nice shootin irons. I just received my 2nd generation Colt 51 navy last week. It's not been fired, but has some handling scuffs. They sure are pretty. Mine was built in 1972. Can't wait to burn some powder in it. I'm kind of afraid to polish the silver on the trigger guard. Not sure how thick it is. Let us know how it shoots. Am not going to be able to get out to shoot mine for a couple of weeks.
Dead Eye Dick

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

My 1972 2nd gen's silver was tarnished also I didn't do anything but clean the gun and shoot it and the recent handling has taken the tarnish off most of the silver. Another 1972...Drat I want anoter 4 digit gun. Mine is 812X S/N
Your's better not be one number either way....LOL
My second 2nd gen a 5 digit(1973) will be here next week.

[Dusty Morningwood]

Mine is a five digit, so not to worry, Charlie!    The tarnish is black.  I have some experience with plate silver, and it does not look good.  I am thinking of polishing the engraving off and having it replated.  I guess this is like an autograph to someone - worth less than just an autogrph.

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

My 5 digit is 112XX And I figure late 1973 or possibly early 1974. Hopefully it was mailed out today.
Mine was black in places from residing in a presentation case with the lid open for 35 years or so.

Did they engrave thru the silver plate. I had heard that the silver plate isn't very thick?
I like the engraving on the guns. it gives them more character.

[Deadeye Dick]

My s/n is 779X which is 1972. Your 5 digit s/n appears to be early 1974. They sure are purty shootin irons and oh so smooth.

[St. George]

When I got mine - it was pure serendipity.

I had a 'perceived need' for an 1851 Navy, and was looking for a decent Italian clone - reasonably priced.

It was the Sunday afternoon of a two-and-half day gun show and there it was - complete with blued backstrap and squared triggerguard.

I asked - we negotiated a most favorable price - and I was mystified at the 'Colt' markings a bit, thinking that they really did themselves 'right' when they made it.

As I walked off - the guy asked if I wanted the box...

I did - and there it was - the two-tone tan cardboard box from Colt - complete with sleeve, tissue, waxed paper, and all papers - marked 'COLT'S NAVY'.

THEN - he said he had the 'other' box out in the car, if I wanted it.

I did - and he went and brought back the 'Colt' presentation case and all accessories - including the little 'Colt Blackpowder Shooter' gold lapel pin...

The 'blued' backstrap and triggerguard was merely tarnished Silver - and Simichrome took care of 'that'.

That blue-black tarnish was what kept anyone from asking its price - over the period of several gun shows - since potential buyers thought that it was just a run-of-the-mill copy, and he was sick and tired of carrying it with him.

The Model Number is C1121 - serial number's 7264 - built in the first production of 1971.

The plating was heavy - probably triple-plated - and after polishing, it's still bright.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Deadeye Dick]

Mine came with the tan box that says Colt's Navy and the papers, Model # C1121. It did not come with the sleeve, wax  and tissue paper. From what I can tell the 2nd generations came with at least three different boxes. The tan one, a brown one and a black one. My 2nd generation 1860 Army came with the black box and was built in either 1980 or 1981. I assume the simichrome polish was tame enough not to take off the silver plating. I have some simichrome and will try it very gently.

[Dusty Morningwood]

Hmmm, may be salvageable afterall, but there is still that engraving. It is engraved into the brass and plated over.

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

Neat Story on your Colt St. George. Some days we hit paydirt. Mine came with a presentation box and goodies but I don't think they or the box is Colt as they arent marked. the powder flask isn't marked at all the moulds are not Colt. But the Pistola sure is. and the new one coming is in it's original brown wood grain box.

[St. George]

Like I said - serendipity...

The presentation box has the 'Colt' medallion inset, as well.

The Powder Flasks weren't marked, while the Bullet Molds were - most of the time.

The Cap Tin is marked 'Eley Bros.', and is black, with a green label.

I've used both 'Simichrome' and 'Wenol' polishes to great effect.

So long as you go slowly and by hand - you should be well-rewarded, and because both polished leave a protective film on the surface - if you don't handle it and leave fingerprints - the silver will shine for a long time.

You can buy either at a good Motorcycle shop - 'or' at a good Antique shop - your choice...

As to the engraving...

Were it mine - I'd polish it off and take the backstrap to a manufacturing jeweler in your town for re-plating.

You'd be surprised at how helpful those guys can be - moreso when it's something out of the norm for them.

Now as to Colt accessories for the Second Generation guns - EMF wound up with a bunch of those when the Second Generation guns went out of production, so whether anything remains deep in their facilities is anyone's guess.

My Second Generation Model 1860 Army has an even better story...

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Deadeye Dick]

St. George I'm interested. Let's hear your 1860 Army story. Some people have all the luck.
Dead Eye Dick

[St. George]

I commanded a Cavalry outfit, for real.

In addition to everything else associated with that particular Branch - there was a lot of Pomp and Circumstance to our various ceremonies - 'Cavalry' being given wide latitude and expected to have some 'flash'...

There were Spur Investitures, Spur Calls, Hails and Farewells, Dining Ins and Dining Outs - and our Punch Ceremonies were quite the affair.

When you transferred out - even our tokens of esteem were unusual, because 'we' gave cap and ball revolvers, sabers, 1851 Belt Plates and things of like nature as befitting service in the Cav...

Our reasoning was simple - we figured that anyone could give you a plaque - but years later, all you had was a footlocker full of them, and clouded memories.

On the other hand - you never forgot the guys who gave you a gun or a saber - and you could bet about anything that 'that' remembrance would find it's way onto a wall in a place of honor...

When I left that command in 1996, in addition to the flag - my Troopers presented me with a brand, spankin' new Colt Model 1860 Army - blued and casehardened, with a rebated cylinder, and with a 'US' below the 'COLTS PATENT' on the left side of the frame - 'and' the shoulder stock, to boot...

Now, this wouldn't've been all that unusual - except that those particular Army Colts went out of production as Second Generation guns in 1984 - being replaced eventually by the 'Signature Series'.

Mine was built in 1978...

In order for them to get it - my guys haunted gun shops and gun shows until they found a 'real' Model 1860 Army Colt on the secondary market - fully twelve years after they'd ceased production...

To this day - I'm still impressed, and I smile whenever my eyes light upon it.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

I can just imagine the look on your face when you figured out what it was. Two great stories.

And on this Memorial Day Weekend.
Sir. I thank you for your service and your sacrifice to help keep us free.

I tried to go to Vietnam, but I was too heavy and too short. So I dedicated my work to helping our guys and gals to be a little safer in Army Tanks. I was in the group at General Motors, That first mounted a 120mm Benet Gun in theATACS turret, On an Abrams Tank at anniston Al. they named it Thumper because the rear section of both tracks "thumped" the ground when fired. We took an Abrams turret and threw away everything but the basket and the ROMEC. Rebuilt a turret from scratch. I was in charge of the internals, The ELMEC and plumbing the hydraulics, and most of the ergonomics and all the Mechanical/electro/hydraulic doodads that we needed.

I ended up working on that and the AFAS-FARV programs thru 2 employers and 7 name changes for 6 years. I also worked on repair of Bradley Fighting vehicles and the bradley MLRS transporters.
I like to think I helped save the lives of our soldiers.
and "Once a Tanker always a Tanker" Whether you manned them or built them!

Again I thank you sir for your service and your sacrifice.

Charlie

[Deadeye Dick]

Nice story. I'll bet you're proud of that 1860 Army. What a gift and honor.
I too echo Halfway Creek Charlie and thank you and all Vet's for your and their sacrifice and service to us and this country.
God Bless America!
Dead Eye Dick 

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

My second  2nd Gen Colt 1851 Navy arrived this afternoon. 5 Digit S/N made 1974, unfired and unturned NIB with all the paperwork.

A note to Dusty and anyone else just purchasing a 2nd Gen 1851 Navy.

What I do to these when I get one of these. First I inspect it to see If I'll keep it. Disassemble the gun and looks for burrs and such.
This one needed the same minor stoning of the internals and the removal of machining burr at the spent cap channel where the hammer passes thru the frame. Both the 1972 and this one had that burr, more prominent on the 5 digit. This one wasn't as gunked up as the 4 digit. but still had some factory grease in it. It lived it's previous life in the box, in the plastic mostly.
Cleaned it up and oiled it with olive oil.
The hammer also had a bit of rear travel(like the 4 digit did) as you tripped the trigger. Light stoning took care of that. This one works as slick as the 4 digit does. YEEE HAWWW!

[Dusty Morningwood]

What years were the brown box with styrofoam insert 51s made?

[Deadeye Dick]

I have a 1972 2nd generation Navy that came in a tan box without a styrofoam insert. So I think it would have to be after 1972.

[Halfway Creek Charlie]

I think it was only the "C' series that was in the brown(woodgrain Box) The tan's bring additional bucks if in good shape.

[St. George]

Mine's dated to 1971.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!