Handguns: Canada Militia London Colt m1851 Navy revolver

[Ramsden]

Jack,

Sounds like a very interesting pistol. Can you tell us what the serial number is and what the issue marks are?

All the best,

Gary

Hi Gary

I will take a look and post the serial numbers. it is clearly Upper Canada and the volunteer number is clear, but there seems to be a bit of confusion on the troop identification.

[Ramsden]

Jack,

Sounds like a very interesting pistol. Can you tell us what the serial number is and what the issue marks are?

All the best,

Gary

Hi Gary:
The serial number is 32825. The markings are U_C / 7 /I. I have studied it over and over and backwards and I believe that the troop and volunteer identification is marked out of order. I believe that it is from the I or Essex Troop and it was issued to the 7th voluteer! I clearly looks like the second marking is L but there was no L troop. Last troop was K. Anyway that's my Upper Canada Colt Navy!
Jack

[andersonix]

For those who might be interested, this cased Upper Canada Colt will be in James D. Julia Inc. October 2010 auction.

It's a cool set, ho[e to have one like that.

[GrantRCanada]

Someone sent me a link to this beautiful set (with original holster bearing the same markings!) - "recently sold" .... http://www.peteholder.co.uk/imgdetail.asp?id=196

Absolutely incredible condition .... I can just imagine what it sold for!

[L. Braden]

Hello Grant. I too am the proud owner of an Upper Canada Colt Navy. I would be surprised if it is included in any know listing as it has been in my family for 80 to 100 years. My father (now passed) was givin the Cold from his uncle about 70 years ago. It was passed on to me for safe keeping 15 years ago. My Dad had it incorrectly registered as a 38 calibre rather than the 36 that it actually is. All of the serial numbers match! My Dad's family came from Mt. Albert in Ontario, so it is possible that one of his family was actually issued this gun. I too live in Alberta! Jack

Your dad wasn't all that incorrect. According to all the Colt experts that I've consulted, although the Navy Colt was nominally .36-calibre, it actually took a .375-.380-inch ball; and, in fact, bullets of .368 to .400 would fit a .36-calibre revolver. Also, the .36-calibre ball was comparable to the modern .38-calibre pistol cartridge in power. So, according to them, a .38-calibre ball would fit a .36! Incidentally, Col. Fosbery (the British gun expert and inventor) equated the calibre of the Navy Colt to "60 to the pound" or 60 gauge; and modern gun experts have designated that to be anywhere from .38 to .43, but not .36. So opinions and evidence are contradictory in that regard, although the consensus of opinion seems to be .41!

[GrantRCanada]

After considerable delay (.... too many projects, too little time .....) I have finally gotten around to bringing my original London Navy revolver into full firing condition!

The main thing was acquiring a set of new nipples threaded to fit original revolvers, then soaking the cylinder so I could remove the rather rusted and battered original nipples. The new nipples I received (from Track of the Wolf) are marked "Colt" on one shoulder ..... and went in without a hitch. (Never fear, the original nipples have been preserved.)

Although the revolver is fully functional, and operates crisply and cleanly, it had a couple of apparent problems:
- the nipple shanks seemed too short (although the original and new nipples were the same) so that I was not getting sufficient contact to fire a cap. (This may have been part and parcel of the next problem ....)
- also, there seemed to be a very excessive gap between the cylinder face and the the rear of the barrel, and the cylinder was free to shift forward on the axis pin to close up the gap .... which undoubtedly contributed to the failure of the hammer to make positive contact with the nipples.

I accordingly fashioned a "washer" from brass shim stock to keep the cylinder positioned further forward, with a much smaller cylinder/barrel gap. This, in turn, required that each nipple be shimmed out somewhat. Having fiddled with that to get it "right", the revolver now fires each cap without difficulty. One great advantage of these original-configuration nipples is that a standard #11 percussion cap fits perfectly, and grips the shank of the cone quite firmly .... so firmly, in fact, that a well- seated unfired cap is quite a chore to remove! What a joy after having experienced sloppy-fitting caps on various reproduction revolvers, which must be pinched out of round to grip the nipple at all, and still often come loose .....

On another note, I have today completed arrangements to have an English-style case made for this revolver by William Shumate ("Bill's Cases" - http://www.billscases.com/index.htm) which will, of course, nicely accommodate the reproduction "Canada Commemorative" London Navy I also have.) Although I have made pistol cases before, I have heard such good things about the work done by this craftsman - for quite reasonable prices - that I decided to let him do the work!

The standard layout of a London Navy casing seems to have varied very little, and is like this:





I have always preferred green for a gun-case lining, so that is what I have ordered.

[38shooter]

Hello Grant !
Congratulations on your Colt Navy acquisition !
Just a quick update on my Adams (lamp) revolver. My machinist is now fabricating parts for it. One thing that we had to decide on was what to do with the cylinder. It had been gouged out at the rear to make room for the lamp wire and had a notch cut at the rear side for the same purpose. Rather than making a new cylinder, he is planning to install a new insert inside the cylinder and fill in the notch with a tig welder. The original blueing should only need touching up.The cylinder will also be able to accept .455 ammunition. Your thoughts on this ??

Jim

[Bubberstone]

Grant

Did you get the case in yet? How does yours look? Post pics

[GrantRCanada]

Yes, I did get the case a while ago, but neglected to follow up with a photo on this forum ....

It looks pretty good, I think .....

[Bubberstone]

Looks way better than the one he did for me that's for sure.