Colt Model 1851 "Navy/Navy" revolver manufactured in 1856 and subsequently converted to chamber the .38 centerfire cartridge by Colt between 1873 and 1876. Approximately 1,000 Model 1851 percussion revolvers were altered to cartridge configuration by Colt for the Navy using the Richards-Mason conversion. This Third Model Navy revolver has the distinctive blued steel trigger guard and back strap found on "Model 1851 "Navy/Navy" revolvers. The right side of the barrel has a Mason type ejector housing with round tip and concentric rings on the ejector head. The loading lever channel on the barrel has been filled but the loading lever plunger hole is open. The frame is fitted with a loading gate with external spring and screw and a Richards Type III conversion ring. The percussion cylinder has been altered by removing the percussion nipples and boring the chambers to accept .38 caliber metallic cartridges. The hammer has been altered to accept a center-fire firing pin. The barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap are stamped with the serial number, "59208". The cylinder serial number, "61162", correctly, does not match the serial numbers of the other components. The conversion ring assembly number "990" is stamped on the back of the loading gate. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the legend "-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-" reading from the breech to the bore (the opposite of the typical Model 1851 address). The left side of the frame has the original "COLTS/PATENT" marking over-stamped with the Colt, two-line 1871 and 1872 patent dates. The butt is stamped with a "U.S.N." property mark above the original Navy inspector's initials "J.L.H." (Commander James L. Henderson). The barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap have a military blue finish and the frame, hammer and loading gate are color casehardened. The one-piece walnut grip has an oil finish.

Excellent with 75% of the original blue and 90% vivid casehardened finish. The finish on the forward portion of the barrel and the side of the ejector housing have aged to a gray patina. There are several small spots of pitting on the ejector housing and the right side of the barrel. The cylinder retains more than 90% of the blue finish and most of the roll-engraved Texas Navy battle scene remains intact. The blue finish on the trigger guard and back strap have faded to a silver gray patina; significant amounts of blue finish are present on protected areas of the trigger guard. The frame, conversion ring, loading gate and hammer retain most of the color casehardened finish with vivid case colors. The frame screws are in excellent condition and retain most of the niter blue finish. The grip is excellent with nearly all of the original oil finish; the grip shows minimal handling wear. All of the markings and serial numbers are crisp. This is an exceptional example of a Colt Richards-Mason cartridge conversion of a Model 1851 "Navy/Navy" revolver.