Found a gun while digging today

[Spots]

So I was installing a water line today at a very old, backwoods house and dug up something intresting. Its an 1851 Colt Navy pattern cap and ball. I disassembled it to a degree at lunch, it is complete except for the grips. Just thought Id share the coolest thing I ever dug up. My guess is its a reproduction, but not sure how to tell. It was a good 2 ft in the ground.



Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[rugerla1]

That's awesome!!! :up:

[Wingshooter]

That's cool! Is the cylinder and other workings frozen up with rust, or is it free?

[Spots]

That's cool! Is the cylinder and other workings frozen up with rust, or is it free?

Naw its all frozen up shut. The wedge tapped out easily and none of the screws stripped, but thats as far as I got. Im gonna soak it in some pb blaster to see if itll free up

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[Pat]

Duz it shoot??

 

That's pretty darn neat, Spots! Wonder what kind of knife you can make out of that thing...

[Wingshooter]

Naw its all frozen up shut. The wedge tapped out easily and none of the screws stripped, but thats as far as I got. Im gonna soak it in some pb blaster to see if itll free up

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

That's a shame it's frozen. PB blaster is good stuff though, so maybe it will free up.

[Murgatroy]

I watched something one time where they made an electromagnetic rust stripper. I forget what the chemicals used were, but you fill the bucket with water and this chemical, run a rod into it and attach it to a car battery. Cleaned it right up.

 

Kinda wish I had paid more attention now.

 

Even if it is a repop, that is kinda awesome.

[Fourtyfive]

2 feet down and you think it's a reproduction ?

[R_Bert]

I watched something one time where they made an electromagnetic rust stripper. I forget what the chemicals used were, but you fill the bucket with water and this chemical, run a rod into it and attach it to a car battery. Cleaned it right up.

 

Kinda wish I had paid more attention now.

 

Even if it is a repop, that is kinda awesome.

Google Electrolytic Rust removal - Here is one example using Rebar and baking soda  http://www.ehow.com/way_5534328_electrolytic-rust-removal.html

[Spots]

I think its a repop cause Im not that lucky. And people do stupid stuff, some kid might have buried it way back when.

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[Fourtyfive]

I'd say you found a real one , don't know if it's worth anything in it's shape , just my guess. Any bones in the area at the same depth ? Edited September 27, 2013 by Threeeighty

[Spots]

I'd say you found a real one , don't know if it's worth anything in it's shape , just my guess. Any bones in the area at the same depth ?

Naw I didnt find anything else around it. Old man said he had no idea it was there, and didnt want it so Im just gonna clean it up as a wall hangar.

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[Fourtyfive]

Check the web for murders in the area by black powder in the last 100 years ! :)

[Monkeyman2500]

That's cool!

[R_Bert]

This site lists the serial # ranges from Colt  (and I sure Colt has it as well)

 

http://www.vincelewis.net/coltnavy.html

[vontar]

would be something it if turns out to be the real deal.

 

Cleaning it up might not be the best out of the box idea if original.

[mikegideon]

That's cool, Spots. I'm guessing the rust ate all the markings. I'm kinda with 380... it may be a real one. Get Leroy to look at it. He's into those old Navies.

[Fourtyfive]

Naw I didnt find anything else around it. Old man said he had no idea it was there, and didnt want it so Im just gonna clean it up as a wall hangar.

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

The old man's wife was not shot a while ago was she ? :)

[hipower]

would be something it if turns out to be the real deal.

 

Cleaning it up might not be the best out of the box idea if original.

 

True,

 

But how do you verify if real or repro with it that rusted up?

[Spots]

It has a serial number on the frame of 30409 and it looks hand stamped?

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[R_Bert]

The serial number (if still there under the corrosion) is on the forward part of the trigger guard, right behind the screw that attaches the guard  

 

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/colt-1851-navy-revolver-u-s-marked-serial-number-90645-c7213/

Edited September 27, 2013 by R_Bert

[Spots]

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[Fourtyfive]

2 feet down and you think it's a reproduction ?

Spots , I did not mean for this to sound smart a** , I think it might have come across that way.

[Spots]

Spots , I did not mean for this to sound smart a** , I think it might have come across that way.

No didnt take it that way at all man. Lol

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[R_Bert]

Tapatalk ate my spelling.

301019?  Hard to see in the pix, but looks like six digits