Stainless 1851 Navy

[DoubleDeuce 1]

I recently came across a stainless 1851 Colt Navy. I understand only about 490 of these were produced. This particular revolver is in the original box. Included in the box is a tag from Butterfield and Butterfield that says "Colt Factory Archive Collection". Along with the tag, I found a certified letter from Colt stating the revolver is from their archive collection. The letter goes on to say the gun is not "necessarily in serviceable condition" and "it should not be loaded."

This revolver is new in the box and unturned. It also has all of the usual paperwork for loads etc. I am curious as to why Colt would say the revolver should not be loaded. I am also interested in what is meant by the Colt Factory Archive Collection. Did Colt sell off pieces from their archives?

 

[StrawHat]

I recently came across a stainless 1851 Colt Navy. I understand only about 490 of these were produced. This particular revolver is in the original box. Included in the box is a tag from Butterfield and Butterfield that says "Colt Factory Archive Collection". Along with the tag, I found a certified letter from Colt stating the revolver is from their archive collection. The letter goes on to say the gun is not "necessarily in serviceable condition" and "it should not be loaded."

This revolver is new in the box and unturned. It also has all of the usual paperwork for loads etc. I am curious as to why Colt would say the revolver should not be loaded. I am also interested in what is meant by the Colt Factory Archive Collection. Did Colt sell off pieces from their archives?

Can't answer the first part of your comments but Colts recently sold their collection. Lots of experimental and one of a kind stuff.

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

That is interesting to know. I wonder what prompted them to do that?

 

[Patocazador]

It's probably for potential lawsuits. Lawyers usually screw up everything. Look what the lawyer-politicians have done to this country.

 

[kBob]

The auction house is not a gun shop. They may feel they can not certify that the gun is safe so....

BTW across the nation in the state legislatures, where laws get made for most things that go to court the majority of Legislatore are NOT lawyers and have a tendency as a result to not understand uninteneded consciquences of their actions.

It is popular to say other wise, but sadly our laws get made by folks that do not understand the laws they make.....can you imagine going to a surgeon that has not been to medical school and passed his boards or even a mechanic without some sort of certificates of training on the wall?

A stainless colt C&B woulkd be interesting.

-kBob

 

[BSA1]

What makes you think it is stainless steel?

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

The revolver is stainless steel. The serial number is followed by the letter 'S', and the letter from Colt indicates the revolver is stainless steel. The end label on the box with the serial number etc. also describes the revolver as stainless

 

[asmith]

"In addition to the standard production models, Colt Blackpowder manufactured 300 Navys with blank cylinders (no roll engraved battle scene) within the serial number range 28851 to 29150 and 490 examples with a stainless steel finish in the serial number range 29151s through 29640s. Model number F1110 Z was produced in stainless steel with ivory grips." from "Black Powder Revolvers - Reproductions & Replicas" by Dennis Adler.

 

[BSA1]

It sounds like very nice and desirable piece.

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

BSA1,
That is what I was kind of thinking too. I have to admit, it sure does have an alluring quality. I still don't know about shooting it. If it didn't have the letter from Colt, and it being part of their archive collection, shooting it wouldn't be a problem for me.