HondaCowboy82
New member
wondering on the story of the so called brooklyn bridge colt 1849s that were found in France in the 50's. Does anybody know the story and any indept information on the guns found??
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1849 Brooklyn Bridge Colt Info???
- Thread starter HondaCowboy82
- Start date
HondaCowboy82
New member
so they werent actual colt's? idk theres one of them on gunbroker. was just wondering about them/
Fingers McGee
New member
From the '51 Navy book by Swayze (published in 1967) describing a photo of one:
"One of the best known copies of the '51 Navy is shown in plate 144. This copy is known as the 'Brooklyn Bridge Colt'. This name comes from the cylinder scene which depicts a suspension bridge with a steam train crossing it. Below the bridge are steamboats and sailboats. The specimen shown in plae 144 is engraved and nickled. On the top barrel flat is "Cap System Manufactured by C. Clement". on the cylinder - in the same place as the "colt Patent and serial number stamping on a '51 Navy - is "Clement Arms Co". The guns serial number -108893 - is stamped on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap only. Note the unusually long cylinder. On the forward round edge of the cylinder - in place of "Engaged 16 May 1843" as on the '51 Navy - this is: "Registered June 1899". No less than 13 proofmarks are stamped on the gun, inculding the Belgium "ELG" in the oval. The barrel is 6" long, 38 caliber, 6 shot. "38 CAL" is stamped in the usual place on the rear flat portion of the trigger guard.
It is easy to see this copy is modeled after a late Fourth Model '51 Navy. The percussion shield cut out is more in the center of the percussion shield, there is a cap slot, and the loading lever catch under the muzzle end of the barrel is of the thick type. All of the Colt features are present including safety pins and hammer knurling.
The stories of the origin of the 'Brooklyn Bridge Colts' seem to vary. One authority tells us these copies were made in Germany (Clement was a German gunmaker) for the African trade as late as 1930. Another authority tells us they were made from 1890 until the start of WWII. 200 of the 'Brooklyn Bridge Colts' (blued with nickle plated trigger guards and backstraps) turned up at the Toulon, France, Government Arsenal in 1950, wher they gradually worked themselves into the antique trade. In any event, the Author does not feel that these copies should be classed as true antiques."
Probably more than you wanted to know.
"One of the best known copies of the '51 Navy is shown in plate 144. This copy is known as the 'Brooklyn Bridge Colt'. This name comes from the cylinder scene which depicts a suspension bridge with a steam train crossing it. Below the bridge are steamboats and sailboats. The specimen shown in plae 144 is engraved and nickled. On the top barrel flat is "Cap System Manufactured by C. Clement". on the cylinder - in the same place as the "colt Patent and serial number stamping on a '51 Navy - is "Clement Arms Co". The guns serial number -108893 - is stamped on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap only. Note the unusually long cylinder. On the forward round edge of the cylinder - in place of "Engaged 16 May 1843" as on the '51 Navy - this is: "Registered June 1899". No less than 13 proofmarks are stamped on the gun, inculding the Belgium "ELG" in the oval. The barrel is 6" long, 38 caliber, 6 shot. "38 CAL" is stamped in the usual place on the rear flat portion of the trigger guard.
It is easy to see this copy is modeled after a late Fourth Model '51 Navy. The percussion shield cut out is more in the center of the percussion shield, there is a cap slot, and the loading lever catch under the muzzle end of the barrel is of the thick type. All of the Colt features are present including safety pins and hammer knurling.
The stories of the origin of the 'Brooklyn Bridge Colts' seem to vary. One authority tells us these copies were made in Germany (Clement was a German gunmaker) for the African trade as late as 1930. Another authority tells us they were made from 1890 until the start of WWII. 200 of the 'Brooklyn Bridge Colts' (blued with nickle plated trigger guards and backstraps) turned up at the Toulon, France, Government Arsenal in 1950, wher they gradually worked themselves into the antique trade. In any event, the Author does not feel that these copies should be classed as true antiques."
Probably more than you wanted to know.
From the '51 Navy book by Swayze (published in 1967)
That's the one I was thinking about. Be neat to have one.
Fingers McGee
New member
Hawg Haggen Quote:
That's the one I was thinking about. Be neat to have one.
They're always listed on GunBroker at around $75