A Beautiful Historical Firearm: The Famous Colt Navy Six

There are guns and then there are guns and the 1851 Colt Navy Revolver stands-out amongst them all. I own one of these and it’s an awesome pistol! If you are really into pistols, I strongly suggest that if you don’t own one of these guns, then you should go out and buy one immediately!

The Colt Revolving Belt Pistol or Navy Pistol, sometimes erroneously referred to as “Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber”, or “of Navy Caliber”, is a cap and ball revolver that was designed by Samuel Colt between 1847 and 1850.

The Model 1851 Navy was Colt’s most popular percussion revolver. Nearly a quarter million of the iconic.36 caliber six-shot model were produced between 1850 and 1873. The term “Navy” refers to the caliber of the revolver, not necessarily the branch of service.

The.44 caliber revolvers are called “Army” and.36 caliber revolvers are called “Navy.” The 1851 Navy was used by a number of famous soldiers and lawmen as well as infamous outlaws in American history.

Not only are these pistols fun as all get-out to shoot, but just holding one in your hand is enough to transport you to a bygone era, they are absolutely beautiful! This is the same pistol carried by “Wild Bill” Hickok.

James Butler Hickok, better known as “Wild Bill” Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West known for his life on the frontier as a soldier, scout, lawman, gambler, showman, and actor, and for his involvement in many famous gunfights.

Each morning after rising, he would empty his pistols and reload them for the new day, this was to insure that his powder was dry and that his pistols would not misfire when he needed them the most!