I have not shot black powder revolvers in years, but I picked up a 3rd Generation Colt 1851 Navy with the silver plated square back trigger guard at an auction this weekend. It is in the box with no other paperwork. The box liner is cracked. The pistol is unfired and in perfect condition. I don't know if I should shoot it, keep it for display, or sell it to buy another shooter. It is a very atractive pistol. What do you guys think?
Shoot 3rd Generation Colt ???
- Thread starter acr1
- Start date
charles-smythe
Inactive
how much are you asking for it?
I am not using this post as a for sale add, I just don't know much about these pistols and wanted to know what the people here who do know a lot about such things thought. I know my picture reads pistols for sale. I do have some other pistols I am selling, all modern, that I took this picture with. I also have some pictures of my kids and my cat in the same file, but they are not for sale. 
madcratebuilder
New member
The 3rd gens are normally good shooters. Their resale is less than a 2nd gen but more than a import. I'd shoot it, a lot.
Bishop Creek
New member
With the cracked box and lack of paper work, your pistols collector value has gone down some, so that a pure collector would pass it by. I say shoot it. I have an 3rd Gen Signature Series 1860 Army .44 that I shoot often. It is a very good shooter and even after nearly 1,000 rounds through it, it still looks new with barely a mark on it.
If you decide to not to shoot it, then it just becomes a safe queen that you take out once and a while and look at. It is probably worth $450 to $500 now and maybe will be worth $600 in 10 years or so. So it won't be a big item to leave for your kids after you are gone.
If you decide to not to shoot it, then it just becomes a safe queen that you take out once and a while and look at. It is probably worth $450 to $500 now and maybe will be worth $600 in 10 years or so. So it won't be a big item to leave for your kids after you are gone.
Thank you all for the replies. I gave $300 for it, so I think I did pretty good. It seems extremely well made, locks up tight, times properly, etc. What are you guys using in your revolvers, black powder, pyrodex??? Years ago I used pyrodex P, but I was thinking now that I would rather use black powder. The smoke and bigger boom seem more fun and more accurate for a pistol like this. I have been doing some reading and it seems pyrodex has some issues that I didn't know about years ago. What would be the best to use to keep corrosion to a minimum? I shoot about 10 miles from my house, so I would probably have to wait an hour or so after shooting to finally get to the cleaning stage.
Bishop Creek
New member
I use real black powder and it is easier to clean than a pistol shot with Pyrodex. You can leave your fired pistol laying around all night and then clean it the next day with no rust or problems. Not so with Pyrodex, the piece must be cleaned right away to prevent rust and corrosion.
Bishop I've got to disagree with you on that. Cleanup with Pyro is a breeze. I live in the humid South and I frequently let them go uncleaned for a day or two. I have let one go as long as nine days with no rust or corrosion. Pyro has no issues other than an undeserved reputation.
Well, that sounds like a win, win situation to me. I want all the smoke, boom, smell, and nasty hands I can get. I have been thinking of getting back into shooting this type of firearms for a while and seeing this one at the auction was the push I needed. They had several other G3 pistols that I wanted, but it seemed some buyers had been chosen ahead of time on some. They had a Walker, 1860 Army, the pistol I bought and a Patterson with a loading lever. I wanted the Patterson as I have always loved the way they look, but it was called sold before I could even raise my hand. It sold for $275. 
I have been thinking of getting back into shooting this type of firearms for a while and seeing this one at the auction was the push I needed. They had several other G3 pistols that I wanted, but it seemed some buyers had been chosen ahead of time on some. They had a Walker, 1860 Army, the pistol I bought and a Patterson with a loading lever. I wanted the Patterson as I have always loved the way they look, but it was called sold before I could even raise my hand. It sold for $275. Bishop Creek
New member
Maybe it's because I live in the arid desert West I have had problems with Pyrodex. It cakes up and turns hard in the barrel and is very difficult to clean requiring a lot of scrubbing. With black powder I just run hot tap water through my barrel and then run a couple of dry patches through it and it cleans right up.
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Bishop Creek
New member
Wow! Great price on the Paterson.Someone sure got a great deal.
Bishop Creek
New member
No, I just use SPG lube in my barrels. Still hard to clean. Must be my dry climate. Humidity runs around 8% on average here.
It is humid here (Arkansas) and hot during the summer. I don't remember having that problem with pryodex and it always went bang, but that has been 20 years ago, so my memory may have faded a bit. I had a Navy Arms 1860 kit revolver that I built and shot a lot. I was 19 and couldn't buy a "real" pistol yet. I had a lot of fun with that pistol. My father has a farm and I had lots of room to shoot. I liked putting 50 gallon barrels way out in the field and then trying to hit them. With some practice I got pretty good at adding enough elevation to hit them. My son (6) is learning to shoot now and I thought a 36 caliber pistol would be a good thing to work him into. He likes cowboy things and has already claimed this pistol.