The Navy Black Powder Revolvers all evolved between 1851 and 1862 from one model originally designed by Colt.

By the start of the Civil War, Colt had refined the Navy into a sleek, streamlined weapon with an improved loading lever. The 1861 Navy is often acclaimed as Colt’s most handsome pistol.

The 1851 Navy Oval Trigger Guard Revolver features a case hardened frame, brass backstrap and a brass triggerguard.  Barrel is 7.5 inches in length and is .36 caliber.  The frame cutout in the rear of the cylinder allows easy access to teh nipples for seating percussion caps.  To seat black powder loads in the cylinder of the single-action army and navy revolvers, the loading lever is freed from the latch and pulled downward. This causes the ramrod to move through the frame and ram the load home.