The most elegant 51 Navy?

[Auldjin]

In my opinion, this is the most elegant of the 51 Navies, the second model squareback. I have been encouraged to share, so here are a couple of pictures which I hope the forum will appreciate.

 

[Notchy Bob]

It is a beauty!

Mine has the raw (yellow) brass triggerguard and backstrap, while yours appears to have the silver plate, but the guard is square-backed on mine.

I think all of the Colt '51 models were nice-looking revolvers, including the London variant.

Thanks for posting!

Notchy Bob

 

[William P Sepessy]

No argument from me! I prefer the squareback trigger guard on the 51 Navies as well, but must admit I'm splitting hairs.

 

[Stan flanery]

Great looking revolver.
Stan

 

[Zonie]

Not that it matters much but the square back trigger guard has a nasty habit of whacking my finger when the gun fires.
I think that is the reason Colt used the round back trigger guards on his later revolvers.

 

[sourdough]

Not that it matters much but the square back trigger guard has a nasty habit of whacking my finger when the gun fires.

At the risk of transcending the rules, I never had a problem with the squareback TG on the Ruger SB .44 Mag, nor the three C&B revolvers I currently possess (Uberti 1848 WH Dragoon, Pietta 1851 Navy 2nd Model, and a Pietta Dance .36). I guess it depends upon the hand structure of the shooter.

I think that is the reason Colt used the round back trigger guards on his later revolvers.

When Colt was trying to sell his 1851 Navy (1st/2nd Model) to the US Army, the Army officer in charge of approving those contracts was a Colonel Wolcott who very much had a liking of the SB TG for aesthetic purposes. When he was convicted in an Army courts-martial for whatever reason, he was relieved of command and Colt then supplied the more well-liked round trigger guard on subsequent models (3rd and 4th). It was all about politics. The same thing applies to the 3rd Model Dragoon (round TG) which Colt supplied to the Army under contract.

Regards,

Jim

 

[SDSmlf]

Not that it matters much but the square back trigger guard has a nasty habit of whacking my finger when the gun fires.
I think that is the reason Colt used the round back trigger guards on his later revolvers.

As Zonie suggests, I have found square backs to be knuckle busters unless shooting powderpuff loads. Might be my grip, but not for me. Although they look nice in a collection.

 

[nightwolf1974]

I love 1851 Navies!!

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I love 1851 Navies!!

Same! Love the .44 Navy’s myself.

 

[Cowboy]

That is a very nice looking pistol

Thank you for sharing my friend.

Respectfully, Cowboy

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

I have both the square back and rounded trigger guard 1851 Navy models. It’s like asking which is you favorite child...

 

[Lippy984]

As Zonie suggests, I have found square backs to be knuckle busters unless shooting powderpuff loads. Might be my grip, but not for me. Although they look nice in a collection.

Is that with Navy size grips usually? Which my next question, does the Walker and Dragoon models have Army size grips or Navy?

 

[Zonie]

The Walker and the Dragoons grips are larger than any of the later made Colt pistols including the Navy.

 

[RB POWELL]

Lovely.

 

[sourdough]

Size comparison:

Armi San Marco 1860 Army .44

Uberti 1848 Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon .44

Pietta 1851 Navy Second Model .36 Belt Dragoon (fantasy parts gun)

Regards,

Jim

 

[nightwolf1974]

.36 or .44...I LOVE THEM ALL!!

 

[Boston Bill]

Jim, Nice wood on the Pietta 1851 Navy Second Model .36 Belt Dragoon (fantasy parts gun).

 

[Farmkid1]

Just bought 1851 Navy from Dixie Gun. Very Happy with fit and finish, and action is smooth enough to feel as though someone worked on it to tune it up. As a young cop in the 70's I tore all my S&W's apart and cleaned and polished their actions. This new 1851 replica feels almost as good as my model 15 which I still have after all these years. 1851 is a Uberti and has very nice wood in grips.