# What kind of gun is this **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 4, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702 "2017-11-04T18:47:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/1 "2017-11-04T18:47:01Z")
Found on a hike. [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/5fe2a3ae-5a22-432c-a5aa-f34cedd645d6.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/5fe2a3ae-5a22-432c-a5aa-f34cedd645d6.jpg) [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/49ae005f-e29c-403f-a17f-387e0de7ce68.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/49ae005f-e29c-403f-a17f-387e0de7ce68.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/2 "2017-11-04T18:53:49Z")
Looks a lot like a Civil War era Colt. ---
**Author:** ![zuer-coli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ba9def/32.png) [@zuer-coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuer-coli)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/3 "2017-11-04T18:54:01Z")
Colt or Colt copy here is a link: > **[Colt Army Model 1860](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Army_Model_1860)** > > The Colt Army Model 1860 is a cap & ball .44-caliber single-action revolver used during the American Civil War made by Colt's Manufacturing Company. It was used as a side arm by cavalry, infantry, artillery troops, and naval forces. > The Colt 1860 Army uses the same size frame as the .36 caliber 1851 Navy revolver. The frame is relieved to allow the use of a rebated cylinder that enables the Army to be chambered in .44 caliber. The barrel on the 1860 Army has a forcing cone that is visibly sho... Zuer-coli ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/4 "2017-11-04T18:54:58Z")
It’s a Civil War era Colt cap and ball pistol. I can’t tell if it’s a Colt Army or a Colt Navy, but they are both pretty similar. > **[Colt 1851 Navy Revolver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_1851_Navy_Revolver)** > > The Colt Revolving Belt Pistol or Navy Pistol, sometimes erroneously referred to as "Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber" or "of Navy Caliber" (Naval is heavy gun and Navy Size Caliber was termed later for another Colt model), is a cap and ball revolver that was designed by Samuel Colt between 1847 and 1850. Colt first referred to this Revolver as the Ranger Size model, and then Revolving Belt, but the designation "Navy" quickly took over. > After the Civil War, revolvers using fixed me... > **[Colt Army Model 1860](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Army_Model_1860)** > > The Colt Army Model 1860 is a cap & ball .44-caliber single-action revolver used during the American Civil War made by Colt's Manufacturing Company. It was used as a side arm by cavalry, infantry, artillery troops, and naval forces. > The Colt 1860 Army uses the same size frame as the .36 caliber 1851 Navy revolver. The frame is relieved to allow the use of a rebated cylinder that enables the Army to be chambered in .44 caliber. The barrel on the 1860 Army has a forcing cone that is visibly sho... They made a frew hundred thousand of them in the 1860s so they aren’t exactly rare. They fired a cap and ball instead of a modern cartridge. You load powder and a ball separately into the cylinder (the thing under the barrel is a ramrod - it may be rusted in place on that one), then put a percussion cap on the back of the cylinder, then repeat for the other 5 chambers. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/5 "2017-11-04T18:56:52Z")
What they said. _Carefully_ brush of what crud you can and see if you can find some serial numbers or the like. That will help. **e\_c\_g** - It isn’t the Navy. That model has a differently shaped pivot-post in front of the cylinder. I’m thinking more Model 1860. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/6 "2017-11-04T19:00:37Z")
Did you find it in a clearing at the end of a path? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/7 "2017-11-04T19:14:27Z")
You should look for a expert on civil war guns and have it appraised, before you do anything to it. Great find, though! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/8 "2017-11-04T19:27:33Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > It’s a Civil War era Colt cap and ball pistol. I can’t tell if it’s a Colt Army or a Colt Navy, but they are both pretty similar. The ‘Navy’ caliber was .36, and the ‘Army’ caliber was .44, hence the names of the revolvers. The Navy had an octagonal barrel, and the newer Army revolver had a round barrel that was smoothly curved at the breech. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/9 "2017-11-04T19:29:54Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > What they said. > > **_Carefully_ brush of what crud you can and see if you can find some serial numbers or the like.** That will help. > > **e\_c\_g** - It isn’t the Navy. That model has a differently shaped pivot-post in front of the cylinder. I’m thinking more Model 1860. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > **You should look for a expert on civil war guns** and have it appraised, before you do anything to it. Great find, though! I’d let the expert risk screwing it up. He’ll know where to look for a serial number and how much brushing will not harm any possible value. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/10 "2017-11-04T20:03:11Z")
Just looking at the pictures I can tell you the appraisal will be in the neighborhood of $50. That gun is missing parts, all of its bluing and is likely rusted out to the point of unusability. Collectors won’t want it and it isn’t good for parts. Neat find, but the chances of it being worth more than a couple of tanks of gas are minimal. A good brushing with a **soft-bristle** brush will likely reveal some useful info. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/11 "2017-11-04T21:17:14Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Just looking at the pictures I can tell you the appraisal will be in the neighborhood of $50. That gun is missing parts, all of its bluing and is likely rusted out to the point of unusability. Collectors won’t want it and it isn’t good for parts. Neat find, but the chances of it being worth more than a couple of tanks of gas are minimal. Fifty bucks? Might be worth more. But I agree it will probably be nothing more than a curiosity or ‘rusty gun’ display. Lots of pitting, and the barrel is probably roached. You can clean it up, but the pitting is bad. FWIW, there’s a four-screw model in _much_ better condition for a current bid of $560. And you can get a new Uberti replica from Midway for $290. Personally, I love Ubertis. I have a bunch of them, though no 1860 Army. I also have a Colt 2nd Generation 1851 Navy, and some Colt 3rd Generation (‘Signature’) revolvers. I’ve never fired any of the Colts, but I’ve fired two of the Uberti Navies. When I get around to it, I want to sell them – and most of my other firearms. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/12 "2017-11-04T22:27:26Z")
Thanks all. I’m not really looking or hoping for money - just curious what it was. It looks like it’s rusted past functioning. I’ll see if I can locate a serial #. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/13 "2017-11-04T22:45:16Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > It looks like it’s rusted past functioning. I’ll see if I can locate a serial #. Serial numbers will be on the [bottom](http://media.liveauctiongroup.net/i/15911/15827180_4.jpg?v=8CFF2D41448C070). There should be one on the (brass) trigger guard/grip, one on the frame, and one on the barrel. You should be able to clean it up so that everything ‘works’. Just don’t try to fire it. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/14 "2017-11-04T23:25:21Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > It’s a Civil War era Colt cap and ball pistol. I can’t tell if it’s a Colt Army or a Colt Navy, but they are both pretty similar. > > [Colt 1851 Navy Revolver - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_1851_Navy_Revolver) > [Colt Army Model 1860 - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Army_Model_1860) > > They made a frew hundred thousand of them in the 1860s so they aren’t exactly rare. > > They fired a cap and ball instead of a modern cartridge. You load powder and a ball separately into the cylinder (the thing under the barrel is a ramrod - it may be rusted in place on that one), then put a percussion cap on the back of the cylinder, then repeat for the other 5 chambers. it might not even be that old; Uberti makes replicas to this day. > **[1858 New Army Revolvers | Uberti USA Replica Rifles and Revolvers](https://www.uberti-usa.com/black-powder-revolvers/1858-new-army-revolvers)** ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-gun-is-this/800702/15 "2017-11-05T02:13:42Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > it might not even be that old; Uberti makes replicas to this day. > > [1858 New Army Revolvers | Uberti USA Replica Rifles and Revolvers](https://www.uberti-usa.com/navy-army-and-police-revolvers) Your direct link is to ‘1851 Navy’ replica. The one in OP picture is 1860 Army type as other posts noted. Uberti does make Army 1860 replica’s too but the ones I’ve seen (including the one I have) have four screws in the frame rather than three as in OP picture. ‘Real’ ones existed in both 3 and 4 screw variants. Maybe Uberti or somebody else made a replica 3 screw at one time though, I don’t know enough to rule that out.