2025

Colt Model 1851 Navy Pistol from the S.S. Central America [159101]

Currency:USD Category:Artifacts / Shipwreck Artifacts Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Colt Model 1851 Navy Pistol from the S.S. Central America [159101]
SOLD
2,300.00USDto t****r+ buyer's premium (460.00)
This item SOLD at 2023 Mar 04 @ 14:25UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
SHIPPING & HANDLING: The customer is responsible for all shipping and packaging charges. We offer shipping service as a convenience to our buyers. Items are not shipped until the invoice and shipping charges are completely paid. Shipping costs will be calculated and billed separately after your items have been paid for. Purchases will be shipped via our approved, insured carriers: FedEx, UPS, USPS or DHL. Pick up is available from our Reno office, once you have received your invoice post auction
This Colt pistol recovered from the S.S. Central America shipwreck is a model 1851 Navy model. The gun was found aboard, still in its leather holster. Time has ravaged the last two inches of barrel that was exposed to salt water and oxygen. The Navy model Colt is recognized by the size of the grip stock as well as the 7 1/2 in. barrel. The '51 Navy was the next model Colt to come west after the Colt 1849 pocket pistol. Carrying the Navy Colt meant you were serious about your shooting skills. At .36 cal. this gun could no longer be carried in your coat pocket. It had to be worn under your belt or as in this case in an exposed holster. The owner may have been law enforcement, a security agent, or the owner wanted the latest technology in firearms. This sample has the wood grips intact while the brass trigger guard and backstrap are now fragments. This was a valuable gun considering that it would have cost about $12 in New York state but $120 in California. A .36 double cavity bullet mold was also found and included in this lot. The mold is in two pieces where the iron alignment pin and hinge pin are now gone.

Provenance: SS Central America Collection