Thank you again Kevin.
This 1851 Colt Navy in stainless steel came from the Colt Archive Collection. Colt sold off a lot of their items. This one was sold through Butterfield and Butterfield. I found this revolver in a local gun shop on display with several other Second Generation Colts and a few Signature Colts. This was on Valentine's Day a couple of years ago. Being in the gun shop with my Valentine... I wanted to look at some of the items on display. We had just come from a very nice lunch
, and I thought my Valentine would indulge me, allowing me to have a look...
Have you ever felt like Charley Brown when he is sitting in his classroom at school, and the teacher drones on and on?
Then the third degree starts.
You all know the drill. I am maintaining my innocence of having no preconceived notion of doing anything... Blah, blah, blah. I told her I merely wanted to look.
I noticed the SS 1851 Navy in the display case. It really didn't excite me. In fact I thought it was downright ugly. Having never seen one before, I asked to hold it. Valentine was right at my elbow with the standard "You're not buying another gun are you?" I told her I wasn't interested, but I thought the stainless idea for black powder was pretty cool as far as clean up goes. After a day at the range, I get to spend the evening cleaning everything, no matter who did the shooting. I explained it was just like my other Navy except stainless. Then I offered it to her to hold. She took it and commented about how heavy it seemed and all. She handed it back to me to return to the store clerk. As a matter of routine, I asked the price of the revolver. $$$$$
I stepped farther down the display case to look at other guns, blued guns. I get the same drill about buying another gun... I gave the same explanation, just looking... I found a blued 1851 Navy and took a look at it. Valentine was again at my side now that I had another shooter out of the display case and in my hand. It cost a bunch less than the SS Navy. I showed it to Valentine and let her hold it. She didn't like it. I told her it was the same thing as the SS Navy. She still didn't like it. She walked over to the SS Navy and said she liked it instead. I mentioned how much more expensive it was than the blued revolver. I added that I didn't care for it, SS being not very appealing to me.
I looked at a few more guns at the opposite end of the case, very far away from the SS Navy. When I was finished, I told Valentine I was ready to leave and headed toward the door. She asked why we came into the shop if I wasn't going to buy a new gun? I told her I didn't need another gun. I had enough already. I looked back at her and she was standing by the case with the SS Navy. She said "This one is really pretty though." I looked her direction and I noticed a light from above shining down on the SS Navy, glinting off the steel. It began calling me. Hesitantly, I walked back to where Valentine was standing saying it was time to go. Now she says, "But I like this one. It's pretty." I protested saying I didn't need or want another gun... But she dug her heels in and said loud enough for the clerk to hear, that she thought it was pretty. The clerk returned to the display case...
I asked about the guns on display. I was told that a local collector was thinning out his collection and brought the Colts in to sell. He had brought in fifteen or twenty Colts, and they were flying off the shelves. Valentine wanted to "look" at the SS Navy again. And again I get the 'it's pretty' stuff. I tell her she doesn't shoot the Italian Navy I take to the range. She says she would shoot this one if I got it... Why you ask??? Because it's pretty. I mentioned the other blued Navy on display and said I would buy that one for her to shoot. She wouldn't budge. She liked the pretty one. I told her I could buy two or three Colts, or several Italian versions for the price of the SS Navy... It's pretty. I ask her if I bought the SS Navy, would she shoot it? Of course her reply was a hearty affirmative. I asked her how could I justify the cost for something I didn't need, like or want... Remember, this was Saint Valentine's Day.
I asked the clerk if they were firm on the price. He said he would talk to the boss/ owner of the shop who just happened to listen and watch the entire exchange between Valentine and me.
The boss has known me for many, many years. He looks at the revolver and checks an inventory card pertaining to the revolver. He says "Well, I don't know..." I am still getting the 'pretty' comments from you know who. I ask the owner if he could just show me a little bit of "love". I was looking at that long ride home after we left his shop. He thinks about it, and then makes me an offer. I counter. He thinks a moment more, and then says "Sure. Why not." Now I am committed.
He boxes the revolver and out the door we go. I get to hear "You said I could shoot it. I want to go shooting more with you." It was a very long drive home...
I go to put this boat anchor into the safe. But before I do, I decide to take it out and get a good look at it. I noticed some stickers on the end of the box. Hang tags were stuffed down in between the pieces of the grey foam liner. All moderately interesting. I decide to pull out the foam liner... Underneath, I found a neatly folded piece of paper. I opened the paper and saw that it was a letter from Colt giving the history of that revolver and where it came from. I read the letter a couple of more times. I folded it back up and replaced it in the bottom of the box.
That evening as we were having our supper, I brought out the box and revolver. I said to Valentine "Remember that Colt Navy? Well we can't shoot it." I showed her the letter and her jaw dropped. She understood what I meant because her father had been a very discerning gun collector. He had owned one of the few remaining, pristine revolving Colt carbines. I think it might have been a Paterson carbine. I have only seen pictures of it. He had number 3, or 5. His collection was sold off through an auction house to pay estate taxes after his death.
I have seen other SS Navy Colt revolvers for sale. The owners would be asking for four and five times the amount I painfully paid. The SS Navy has grown on me. It is a beautiful revolver.
I am very fortunate to have Valentine. She is a tremendously good sport, and a wonderful lady. Plus, she puts up with me.
