Colt Richard's-Mason Model 1861 Navy Revolver cartridge conversion manufactured circa 1873. This revolver is in the percussion serial number range and features a Richard's Type III centerfire conversion ring. The revolver has a Mason type ejector housing on the right side of the barrel lug, ejector head with concentric rings, percussion type wedge with spring plugged loading lever hole in the barrel, re-worked percussion cylinder re-serial numbered to the revolver, external loading gate spring and centerfire hammer with knurled bordered spur. The barrel has a nickel-silver front sight and the top is roll-stamped "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-" in one line. The left side of the frame is stamped "-PAT. JULY. 25. 1871-/-PAT. JULY. 2. 1872-" in two lines over the percussion patent markings. The percussion caliber designation "36 CAL" is stamped on the left shoulder of the trigger guard. The modified cylinder is roll-engraved with the original naval battle scene, "COLTS PATENT" markings and the partial serial number "566". The full serial number "32306" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, back strap. The partial serial number "2306" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate and the cylinder is re-numbered with the partial serial number "306" below the original serial number. The revolver has the Colt high polish commercial blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing and cylinder. The frame, conversion ring, hammer and loading gate are color casehardened. The brass trigger guard and backstrap are silver-plated and the one-piece walnut grip has a high gloss varnish finish.

Excellent. The revolver retains 98% plus of the original blue and casehardened finish and shows only very light handling wear. There is some minor finish and surface wear on the high points of the left side of the barrel and the ejector housing. The cylinder has a turn ring and some finish wear on the leading edge but retains most of the blue finish. The frame, conversion ring, hammer and loading ring have more than 95% of the casehardened finish with vivid case colors. The screw heads and trigger have most of the niter blue finish. The brass trigger guard has 40% of the delicate silver-plated finish. The markings and serial numbers are very crisp. The grip is excellent and retains well over 95% of the piano-finish; wear is limited to a few insignificant handling marks and some very minor finish loss on the edges of the heels. This is an exceptional example of a Colt Model 1861 Navy Richard's-Mason Conversion Revolver.