Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber

Few people know what the Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber was. It was developed between 1847 and 1850 and was released during the latter year. It was better known as the Colt 1852 Navy Revolver or simply the Colt Navy, .36 preferred by Wild Bill Hickock, Doc Holliday and Robert E. Lee.



The Colt Navy was a sweet weapon. It was a bit harder to maintain and load than the later Colt Single Action Army or Peacemaker that used metallic cartridges. The Navy still used paper cartridges and each chamber had to be loaded separately. A percussion cap had to be utilized for each round. And the weapon had to be carefully cleaned and maintained. If it was, and Colt Navy users seem to have been as loyal and attentive to it as it was powerful and responsive to them, it served them well.



Hickok had a set of two silver-plated ivory-handled Navys that he wore not in holsters but a sash and these would be drawn twisted or reverse. They were inscribed "J.B. Hickock - 1869" - J.B. being James Butler his name.