Old 36cal navy, need any info - The Firearms Forum

Fordman08 · 10-31-2009, 11:06 AM

This pistol has no stamps or markings that I can find other than the serial number stamped on the bottom. If anyone can post any info on what it is or might be, that would be great.

Fordman08 · 10-31-2009, 03:06 PM

anyone???????????

hrf · 10-31-2009, 03:34 PM

Looks like a Manhattan except for brass frame. Maybe a foreign copy or a replica that has been "aged"?

RJay · 10-31-2009, 03:48 PM

The brass frame and type engraving tells me it is a replical. It is not a Colt nor any type of license Colt ( such as the Belgiums ). There are markings on it, you just haven't found them

zb338 · 10-31-2009, 04:46 PM

About 25 years ago or more an Italian company (maybe more than one)
was putting these out. They were going for $30 a pop with maybe another
$10 for the engraved ones. They were poorly made, but shootable with
black powder. Have fun with it. It ain't gonna make you rich.

Zeke

Fordman08 · 11-01-2009, 12:14 AM

Took it to a guy today that collects old colts, he said it was not a colt but was definitly a gun over 100 years old. He did show me where there is something stamped on it...possibly the word LONDON, i'll post any more info I find on it.

Alpo · 11-01-2009, 07:22 AM

I think your Colt guy is blowing smoke. The nipples don't show signs of age. The bolt-notches in the cylinder don't show signs of age. The screws don't show signs of age. The only guns, back then, that were made with a brass frame were Confederate copies of Colts. That was a war-time expedient. They did not have the iron for iron frames. Brass was quicker and cheaper. Same reason many of the Italian copies are brass. Cheaper and easier to make. The grips have not shrunk. Look at some real 170-year-old 1851 Colts (which is what that is a copy of). The wood has dried out and shrunk away from the metal grip frame.

You've got an Italian copy.

Fordman08 · 11-01-2009, 07:45 AM

Thanks.

Danny · 11-01-2009, 03:24 PM

Alpo,
No disrespect intended, but the first 1851 Navy's had the brass frames. That is why when U buy a replica of this famous Colt, it has a brass frame. Not as a cost cutter as you mentioned.
Regards
Danny

Fordman08 · 11-01-2009, 04:05 PM

Danny,
He meant that the originals were made with brass due to the fact it was cheaper and available for the south during the Civil War. He's right.

About it being a modern replica, he's wrong.

RJay · 11-01-2009, 04:07 PM

But, it's still not a colt and it is not a hundred years old. Danny, I believe the trigger guard and grip was brass on the Colts not the frame as on this one. The Confederate gun had a round barrel.

Fordman08 · 11-01-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJay

But, it's still not a colt and it is not a hundred years old.

True, its definitly not a Colt, and true its not 100 years old, its more like 150 years old. An antique gun collector and a county historian/museum manager looked it over today and they confirmed it was a Civil War period weapon.

RJay · 11-01-2009, 07:42 PM

OK, one last post and I'm out of here. With no readable markings how did they determine the age, and if they were experts in firearms why weren't they able to ID the maker. I could be wrong , but I stand by my original post, A replica made in Spain or Italy.

Fordman08 · 11-01-2009, 08:42 PM

They found two letters on the barrel, there are more but cant be made out...yet. They had in completely taken apart. I asked if it could be a modern replica or something "aged" and they looked at me funny and said "no". They said it was a very old pistol, made in the civil war era.

Im not trying to get you upset but these men have known expierence with old weapons and relics and they had it in their hands telling me it was authentic. I could care less, one way or the other. I just like knowing what I have. If it were a modern replica...cool, it looks neat, if its authentic, cool...it looks neat.

Thanks to everyone for their input, I truely apprieciate all your time and efforts.

I really like this site!!

10-31-2009, 11:06 AM	#1
Fordman08 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11	Old 36cal navy, need any info This pistol has no stamps or markings that I can find other than the serial number stamped on the bottom. If anyone can post any info on what it is or might be, that would be great. --> Last edited by Fordman08; 11-01-2009 at 07:46 AM..

10-31-2009, 03:06 PM	#2
Fordman08 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info anyone???????????

10-31-2009, 03:34 PM	#3
hrf Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,283	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info Looks like a Manhattan except for brass frame. Maybe a foreign copy or a replica that has been "aged"?

10-31-2009, 03:48 PM	#4
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,487	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info The brass frame and type engraving tells me it is a replical. It is not a Colt nor any type of license Colt ( such as the Belgiums ). There are markings on it, you just haven't found them __________________ RonJames

10-31-2009, 04:46 PM	#5
zb338 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Recently moved to Pennsylvania. Posts: 286	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info About 25 years ago or more an Italian company (maybe more than one) was putting these out. They were going for $30 a pop with maybe another $10 for the engraved ones. They were poorly made, but shootable with black powder. Have fun with it. It ain't gonna make you rich. Zeke

11-01-2009, 12:14 AM	#6
Fordman08 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info Took it to a guy today that collects old colts, he said it was not a colt but was definitly a gun over 100 years old. He did show me where there is something stamped on it...possibly the word LONDON, i'll post any more info I find on it.

11-01-2009, 07:22 AM	#7
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,664	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info I think your Colt guy is blowing smoke. The nipples don't show signs of age. The bolt-notches in the cylinder don't show signs of age. The screws don't show signs of age. The only guns, back then, that were made with a brass frame were Confederate copies of Colts. That was a war-time expedient. They did not have the iron for iron frames. Brass was quicker and cheaper. Same reason many of the Italian copies are brass. Cheaper and easier to make. The grips have not shrunk. Look at some real 170-year-old 1851 Colts (which is what that is a copy of). The wood has dried out and shrunk away from the metal grip frame. You've got an Italian copy. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

11-01-2009, 07:45 AM	#8
Fordman08 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info Thanks.

11-01-2009, 03:24 PM	#9
Danny Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Va Contributor Posts: 594	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info Alpo, No disrespect intended, but the first 1851 Navy's had the brass frames. That is why when U buy a replica of this famous Colt, it has a brass frame. Not as a cost cutter as you mentioned. Regards Danny __________________ THE GUN HAS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN HISTORY. AN INVENTION WHICH HAS BEEN PRAISED & DENOUNCED...SERVED HERO & VILLAIN ALIKE...AND CARRIES WITH IT MORAL RESPONSIBILITY...TO UNDERSTAND THE GUN IS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HISTORY.

11-01-2009, 04:05 PM	#10
Fordman08 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info Danny, He meant that the originals were made with brass due to the fact it was cheaper and available for the south during the Civil War. He's right. About it being a modern replica, he's wrong.

11-01-2009, 04:07 PM	#11
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,487	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info But, it's still not a colt and it is not a hundred years old. Danny, I believe the trigger guard and grip was brass on the Colts not the frame as on this one. The Confederate gun had a round barrel. __________________ RonJames Last edited by RJay; 11-01-2009 at 04:14 PM..

11-01-2009, 07:42 PM	#13
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,487	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info OK, one last post and I'm out of here. With no readable markings how did they determine the age, and if they were experts in firearms why weren't they able to ID the maker. I could be wrong , but I stand by my original post, A replica made in Spain or Italy. __________________ RonJames

11-01-2009, 08:42 PM	#14
Fordman08 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11	Re: Old 36cal navy, need any info They found two letters on the barrel, there are more but cant be made out...yet. They had in completely taken apart. I asked if it could be a modern replica or something "aged" and they looked at me funny and said "no". They said it was a very old pistol, made in the civil war era. Im not trying to get you upset but these men have known expierence with old weapons and relics and they had it in their hands telling me it was authentic. I could care less, one way or the other. I just like knowing what I have. If it were a modern replica...cool, it looks neat, if its authentic, cool...it looks neat. Thanks to everyone for their input, I truely apprieciate all your time and efforts. I really like this site!!