This U.S.N. Colt Model 1861 Navy revolver was manufactured in 1861 and subsequently converted to Richards-Mason 38 centerfire cartridge configuration by Colt for the U.S. Navy between 1873 and 1876. The revolver has a military blue finish on the barrel and cylinder. The frame, loading gate and hammer have a casehardened finish. The trigger guard and back strap are brass and the one piece walnut grip has an oil finish. The revolver has a Mason type ejector housing attached to the right side of the barrel by a screw running through the left side of the barrel lug, The front of the ejector head is stamped with concentric rings. The barrel lug is has a factory-fitted plug in the loading lever hole. A right side of the recoil shield is milled and a loading gate with external spring is fitted to the right side of the frame. The hammer has a screw-in cone-type firing pin. The cylinder has been altered and fitted with a Richards centerfire conversion ring. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line legend "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-". The initials of the New York Navy Yard conversion inspector "R. W. M." and an anchor are stamped on the underside of the barrel ahead of the lug. "PAT. JULY. 21, 1871./PAT. JULY. 2. 1872." is stamped in two lines on the left side of the frame over the original Colt patent markings. "36 CAL" is stamped on the left shoulder of the trigger guard. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene and "COLTS PATENT NO.". "USN" is stamped on the bottom of the trigger guard. The original serial number "1773" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The cylinder is stamped with the original serial number "89863" and the conversion serial number "1773". The partial serial number "773" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate.

Very fine. The revolver retains 70% plus of the original blue and casehardened finish. The cylinder has nearly all of the Texas Navy scene intact. There is some light flash pitting on the forward edges of the cylinder and adjacent portions of the barrel lug. The brass trigger guard and back strap have scattered minor handling marks. The grip is in good overall condition with moderate handling wear and scattered, minor dents and scratches. This is a very fine example of a scarce and historically significant U.S. Navy Richards-Mason Cartridge Conversion Colt Model 1861 Navy Revolver.