This pair of Model 1861 Navy revolvers (serial numbers 17349 and 17478) were manufactured by Colt c.1864. A copy of an old dealer sales letter for these revolvers describes them as the property of Colonel B.F. Akers of Leavenworth, Kansas, and states that Colonel Akers operated freight wagon trains between Levenworth and Salt Lake City. Preliminary research confirms that B.F. Akers was listed as a resident of Levenworth, Kansas, and a livery stable owner in the 1860 Census and confirms that he operated freight wagons between Levenworth and both Denver and Salt Lake City in 1864 at the height of the Cheyenne and Lakota Souix raids on wagon trains and ranches in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. A short biography for a Benjamin Franklin Akers (1829-1880) is posted on the Kansas Historical Society webpage. According to the Society, Akers opened a stable in Leavenworth, Kansas, in the early 1860s and supplied horses to the Army and ran mule and oxen freight trains to Denver. After the war, Akers, along with his partner Colonel Amasa Sprague, established the Kansas Stock Farm. Today, Akers' home remains at 1645 Louisiana St. in Lawrence, Kansas. (Note that the Society did not mention Akers holding the rank of Colonel.) The revolvers have the Colt high polish commercial blue finish on the barrels and cylinders with casehardened frames, loading levers and hammers. The brass trigger guards and back straps are silver plated and both revolvers have one-piece factory ivory grips. The revolvers have nickel silver front sight blades, channels in the frame capping cut-outs and borderless knurled hammer spurs. Both cylinders are roll-engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene and "COLTS PATENT No." Both revolver barrels are roll-stamped with the one-line legend "- ADDRESS COL. SAMl COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-". "COLT'S/PATENT" is light stamped on the left side of both frames. "36 CAL." is stamped on the left shoulder of both revolver trigger guards. The full serial number "17478" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap of Revolver A and the partial serial number "7478" is stamped on the revolver cylinder. Revolver B has the full serial number "17349" stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap and the partial serial number "349" stamped on the revolver cylinder. All the visible serial numbers on both revolvers match. The revolvers are accompanied by a rare pistol belt and double holster rig with U.S. Army officer pattern brass saber belt plate. The rig consists of two matching "California" pattern holsters and a leather belt. The semi-contour holsters have the distinctive California recurved throat profile, riveted and sewn-in toe plug with buckskin linings. The holsters are made of medium weight russet leather and decorated with incised floral and cross-hatched decoration. The pistol belt is made of folded russet leather and decorated with the same floral and cross-hatched decorations as the holsters. There are no visible maker's marks on the holsters or the belt but the style and decoration is very similar to holsters made by E.L. Gallatin of Denver, Colorado, c. 1860-1865. The holsters and belt are clearly contemporary with each other and the sales document indicates that the holsters and revolvers were purchased directly from B.F. Akers' daughter in Topeka, Kansas.

Very fine. The revolver retains 85% of the original high polish blue finish and show light handling wear. The blue finish on the barrel has a few minor handling marks and several very minor spots of surface discoloration. The cylinder retains nearly all of the roll-engraved scene. The safety pins on the cylinder remain intact and the percussion nipples show minimal flash pitting. The loading lever, frame and hammer retain traces of the slight faded case colors. The brass trigger guards and back straps of retain 20% of the delicate silver plated finish which is mostly contained in protected areas. The frame screws have traces of niter blue finish and are free from screwdriver battering. The ivory grips are slightly yellowed from age and are very good overall showing a period chip in the right heel, two hairline cracks at the junction with upper right side back strap and two minor hairline cracks in the left heel. The action is tight and function well. The holsters and belt are fair to good. Most of the original finish has flaked from the holster bodies and both belt loops are broken at the top. Holster A has tight stitching on the seams and toe plug. Holster B shows more wear and has an open edge seam. The belt buckle has a dark unpolished patina with and old repair on the lower edge. The belt has a period sewn repair in the middle and the delicate folded edges are worn with flaking leather. This is an exceptional Colt Model 1861 Navy revolver rig. The combination of a matched pair of excellent condition Civil War era Model 1861 Navy revolvers with factory ivory grips and the original western-made, California pattern, double holster and belt rig with solid historical association is unique. This is a great looking matched pair of Colt Model 1861 Navy and rare holster and belt rig. It would be difficult to ever improve on the history and condition on this exceptional rig.

As described in "A"

Very fine. The revolver retains 85% of the original high polish blue finish and show light handling wear. The blue finish on the barrel has a few minor handling marks and several very minor spots of surface discoloration. The cylinder retains nearly all of the roll-engraved scene. The safety pins on the cylinder remains intact and the percussion nipples show minimal flash pitting. The loading lever, frame and hammer retain traces of the slight faded case colors. The brass trigger guard and blackstrap retain 20% of the delicate silver plated finish which is mostly contained in protected areas. The frame screws have traces of niter blue finish and are free from screw-driver battering. The ivory grips are slightly yellowed from age and are very good overall showing a hairline crack on the left side and several hairline age cracks on the heels. The action is tight and functions well.