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Colt had come out with his expanidng concept line in 1850- the 'M1849" Pocket, and the "M1851" Navy.
The Colt Navy belt pistol was first tested by the Ordnance Department on November 13, 1850 at the Washington Aresnal. The Navy penetrated six one inch boards at 16 yards, bested only by Colt's Army pistol (aka "Dragoon"). Likely some of the 850 First Model Navy's (aka "Squarebacks").
But the Navy was not overly impressed as it were. 50 were ordered in June of 1852 for test/trial by the Navy.
On June 16th, Commodore Charles Morris, CHief of Ordnance and Hydrography contacted Colt requesting one hundred pistols by July 10 to teh New York NAvy Yard for th euse of Commodore Perry for his expedition to the East indies and Chinese Seas. Nine day slater, Perry himself contacted Colt asking for 25 Army pistols (Dragoon), 50 of the M1851's plated, six four-and-a-half and 13 six inch barrelled M1849's. Colt packed up the order and had it delivered to teh Brooklyn Navy Yard to the Perry's steam frigate "Mississippi." Dragoons and NAvy's were $25 each, Pockets $19.30.
It was not until January 15, 1855 that an order for 1,000 "holster pistols" (meaning ARmy (Dragoon) pistols were changed to read 'belt pistols" was ordered by the Army. In July of 1855, came the first order for 1,000 M1851's (2nd Models).
On June 16, 1856 the Navy ordered a second batch. In July an dAugust 1857, Colt delivered 136 Navy's with moulds, flasks, and appendages at $18 each. Pleased, teh NAvy placed an order on September 28, 1857 for 2,000 at $18 div4ded equally between Boston, New York, and Norfolk yards. In November 615 went to Norfolk, and 667 to Boston, an din DEcember teh rest went to New York.
That seemed enough for the Navy until late July of 1856 when the Navy what was his best price for 600 more, 300 to Boston, and 300 to New York? Colt got ambitious and on July 27 said he could deliver 5,000 but teh order was for only 600 at $18 each set. On September 9, Colt delivered the 600 at ..... $11.663.10 each set.
Meanwhile, looking for business, Colt had several 3rd Mdoel Dragoon pistols "modified" out of complaints that they were too bulky and heavy. IMHO, this was brought about by a shift from the pommel or 'Holster" pistol to the growign desire/need for a .44 belt pistol. Colt engineers and designers haivng failed, they revisited teh whole thing looking to take the frame of the
M1851 to arrive at the M1860 Army revolver (aka New Model Holster Pistol). Colt was to have had submitted his M1860 for examination and tsting by the Ordnance Department by May of 1860. He did, submittign two, and the Board approved the M1860 on May 19, 1860.
Perhaps oddly, the first batches were sold of the Mason-Dixon. Between December 1860 and April 15, 1861, 2,230 were sold in the South.
The Ordnance Department palced its first order for only 500 on May 4, 1861 to go to the NY Arsenal. OIn May 15th, another 500, all at $25 a set. Colt's first big order was for 5,000 June 12, 1861. That he did by October 9, 1861.
With the demands of equipping large numbers of troops, the Ordnance Department contacted Colt asking for him to just make as many as he could of the New Model Army weekly until told to stop.
And that he did. Between October 21, 1861 and April 15, 1862,Col;t delivered 25,700 at $25 each, and 2,000 of teh new M1861 NAvy's at $22.50 a set.
On June 6, 1862 he received another contract 15,000 M1860's at a reduced price of $14.50, an danother on August 14th for 30,000 at $14.00 each set. Folowed by a contrasct for 30,000 Army's on Janaury 30, 1863 at $14.00 each. at the rate of delivery of 7,500 a month. Hi s last large order cam eon MAy 25, 1863 for 20,000 more. The last batch was reduce din price to $13.73 becasue Colt did nt include bullet moulds.
On May 1, 1861 the Navy ordered 500 M1860 Army's at $25 each set, with deliveries of half to New York, and half to Boston. NY got their batch on May 27th. Followed a few days later by Boston's..
Fluted 1st Model M1860's (typology yYpe I's) appear to be the first made by Colt before being dropped. Which moreorless corresponds to the Navy's order, so it is believed most of not all of this order were fluted cylinder 1st Models (Type I) with below 5,000 serial numbers.
On August 14, 1861 the Navy telegraphed in an order for 200 Colt holster pistols to be delivered to the Washington Navy Yard. Colt ordered his factory into overtime with 24 hour production and had them dne and delivered within a week. They were inspected. 50 were proofed and tested. In a May 24, 1861 letter, it was reported that sone had multiply discharged,a nd that the small space between teh flutes had 'flaws."
Colt was charged with replacing them. For unknown reasons, Colt replaced the 200 M1860's with 200 M1861 Navy's. But... between May and September 1861, Colt supplied the Navy with 1,150 M1860's. Many of that batch were sent west to Rear Admiral David Porter's "Mississippi Squadron."
Based on subsequent orders for Colt .44 catridges and percussion caps, the numbers requested would seem to show a goodly amount of use.
With the delivery of the 200 New Model Navy's (M1861's) in September to replace the questionable batch of 200 M1860's, only New Model Navy's were obtained for the rest of the War to the tune of 3,000.
Starting in September of 1862, Remington had gotten up production of their M1861 Army and Navy revolvers available for only $12. Plus early in 1863 Whitney had their production of the Whitney Navy availabel for.. $12.
And that sealed the decline for Colt due to his/their higher prices.
It is somewhat intreresting, and it is unknown as to whether returns were a part... an ddoes not include in service arms, but.. an inventory dated December 1, 1866 shows that the nine Navy Yards had on hand 1,956 .36's, and 997 .44's.
And that is not getting into Open Market purchases, or sales directly to states.
Curt
A babel of tongues Mess
Colt had come out with his expanidng concept line in 1850- the 'M1849" Pocket, and the "M1851" Navy.
The Colt Navy belt pistol was first tested by the Ordnance Department on November 13, 1850 at the Washington Aresnal. The Navy penetrated six one inch boards at 16 yards, bested only by Colt's Army pistol (aka "Dragoon"). Likely some of the 850 First Model Navy's (aka "Squarebacks").
But the Navy was not overly impressed as it were. 50 were ordered in June of 1852 for test/trial by the Navy.
On June 16th, Commodore Charles Morris, CHief of Ordnance and Hydrography contacted Colt requesting one hundred pistols by July 10 to teh New York NAvy Yard for th euse of Commodore Perry for his expedition to the East indies and Chinese Seas. Nine day slater, Perry himself contacted Colt asking for 25 Army pistols (Dragoon), 50 of the M1851's plated, six four-and-a-half and 13 six inch barrelled M1849's. Colt packed up the order and had it delivered to teh Brooklyn Navy Yard to the Perry's steam frigate "Mississippi." Dragoons and NAvy's were $25 each, Pockets $19.30.
It was not until January 15, 1855 that an order for 1,000 "holster pistols" (meaning ARmy (Dragoon) pistols were changed to read 'belt pistols" was ordered by the Army. In July of 1855, came the first order for 1,000 M1851's (2nd Models).
On June 16, 1856 the Navy ordered a second batch. In July an dAugust 1857, Colt delivered 136 Navy's with moulds, flasks, and appendages at $18 each. Pleased, teh NAvy placed an order on September 28, 1857 for 2,000 at $18 div4ded equally between Boston, New York, and Norfolk yards. In November 615 went to Norfolk, and 667 to Boston, an din DEcember teh rest went to New York.
That seemed enough for the Navy until late July of 1856 when the Navy what was his best price for 600 more, 300 to Boston, and 300 to New York? Colt got ambitious and on July 27 said he could deliver 5,000 but teh order was for only 600 at $18 each set. On September 9, Colt delivered the 600 at ..... $11.663.10 each set.
Meanwhile, looking for business, Colt had several 3rd Mdoel Dragoon pistols "modified" out of complaints that they were too bulky and heavy. IMHO, this was brought about by a shift from the pommel or 'Holster" pistol to the growign desire/need for a .44 belt pistol. Colt engineers and designers haivng failed, they revisited teh whole thing looking to take the frame of the
M1851 to arrive at the M1860 Army revolver (aka New Model Holster Pistol). Colt was to have had submitted his M1860 for examination and tsting by the Ordnance Department by May of 1860. He did, submittign two, and the Board approved the M1860 on May 19, 1860.
Perhaps oddly, the first batches were sold of the Mason-Dixon. Between December 1860 and April 15, 1861, 2,230 were sold in the South.
The Ordnance Department palced its first order for only 500 on May 4, 1861 to go to the NY Arsenal. OIn May 15th, another 500, all at $25 a set. Colt's first big order was for 5,000 June 12, 1861. That he did by October 9, 1861.
With the demands of equipping large numbers of troops, the Ordnance Department contacted Colt asking for him to just make as many as he could of the New Model Army weekly until told to stop.
And that he did. Between October 21, 1861 and April 15, 1862,Col;t delivered 25,700 at $25 each, and 2,000 of teh new M1861 NAvy's at $22.50 a set.
On June 6, 1862 he received another contract 15,000 M1860's at a reduced price of $14.50, an danother on August 14th for 30,000 at $14.00 each set. Folowed by a contrasct for 30,000 Army's on Janaury 30, 1863 at $14.00 each. at the rate of delivery of 7,500 a month. Hi s last large order cam eon MAy 25, 1863 for 20,000 more. The last batch was reduce din price to $13.73 becasue Colt did nt include bullet moulds.
On May 1, 1861 the Navy ordered 500 M1860 Army's at $25 each set, with deliveries of half to New York, and half to Boston. NY got their batch on May 27th. Followed a few days later by Boston's..
Fluted 1st Model M1860's (typology yYpe I's) appear to be the first made by Colt before being dropped. Which moreorless corresponds to the Navy's order, so it is believed most of not all of this order were fluted cylinder 1st Models (Type I) with below 5,000 serial numbers.
On August 14, 1861 the Navy telegraphed in an order for 200 Colt holster pistols to be delivered to the Washington Navy Yard. Colt ordered his factory into overtime with 24 hour production and had them dne and delivered within a week. They were inspected. 50 were proofed and tested. In a May 24, 1861 letter, it was reported that sone had multiply discharged,a nd that the small space between teh flutes had 'flaws."
Colt was charged with replacing them. For unknown reasons, Colt replaced the 200 M1860's with 200 M1861 Navy's. But... between May and September 1861, Colt supplied the Navy with 1,150 M1860's. Many of that batch were sent west to Rear Admiral David Porter's "Mississippi Squadron."
Based on subsequent orders for Colt .44 catridges and percussion caps, the numbers requested would seem to show a goodly amount of use.
With the delivery of the 200 New Model Navy's (M1861's) in September to replace the questionable batch of 200 M1860's, only New Model Navy's were obtained for the rest of the War to the tune of 3,000.
Starting in September of 1862, Remington had gotten up production of their M1861 Army and Navy revolvers available for only $12. Plus early in 1863 Whitney had their production of the Whitney Navy availabel for.. $12.
And that sealed the decline for Colt due to his/their higher prices.
It is somewhat intreresting, and it is unknown as to whether returns were a part... an ddoes not include in service arms, but.. an inventory dated December 1, 1866 shows that the nine Navy Yards had on hand 1,956 .36's, and 997 .44's.
And that is not getting into Open Market purchases, or sales directly to states.
Curt
A babel of tongues Mess