This is a fine original example of a Colt factory Richards Mason Style conversion Model 1861 Navy revolver chambered for the .38 Colt Centerfire cartridge. The revolver has the Colt commercial blue finish on the barrel and cylinder, casehardened hammer, frame and loading gate and silver-plated brass trigger guard and back strap. The one-piece walnut grip has a varnish finish. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene. The barrel loading lever and plunger channels have been plugged and finished to blend with surrounding portions of the barrel and the bottom contour has been streamlined. The ejector assembly is attached by a screw entering on the left side of the barrel lug. The face of the ejector rod head is milled with concentric rings. The re-worked cylinder has a Third Model Richards-Mason center-fire breech-plate. The frame has a loading gate with external spring secured by a screw in the frame below the recoil shield. The hammer has a centerfire firing pin and knurled, bordered, spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "- ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-". The left side of the frame is roll-stamped: "-PAT. JULY.25. 1871-/-PAT.JULY. 2, 1871.-" in two lines. The left shoulder of the trigger guard is stamped with the percussion "36 CAL" marking. The full serial number, "32360" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "2360" is stamped on the cylinder and loading gate. All of the visible serial numbers match. Colt manufactured approximately 1,800 Model 1861 Navy centerfire conversion revolvers in the mid-1870s. Examples of this revolver are scarce.

Fine. The revolver retains 40% of the original blue and casehardened finish. The barrel, ejector housing and cylinder have a deep brown patina on contact points; substantial amounts of the high polish, commercial blue finish are present in protected areas. The cylinder retains nearly all of the roll-engraved naval scene. The frame, hammer and loading gate retain at 60% of the original casehardened finish with subdued case colors. Traces of the silver-plated finish are present on protected areas of the trigger guard and back strap. The brass has not been polished and has an attractive age patina. The grip is in excellent condition and retains nearly 90% of the original varnish; wear is limited to some minor dents and some finish loss on the bottom of the grip. The markings and serial numbers are crisp. The action is tight and functions perfectly. This is a fine, totally original example of a desirable Colt factory conversion Model 1861 Navy revolver.