Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver (serial no. 20133), with Case and Accessories by Samuel Colt

Gold-inlaid Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver (serial no. 20133), with Case and Accessories 1848 - 1858

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metal, gold, engraving

metal

gold

united-states

armor

engraving

Dimensions Revolver (a): L. 12 15/16 in. (32.9 cm); L. of barrel 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm); Cal. .36 in. (9.14 mm); Wt. 2 lb. 9.4 oz. (1174 g); case (b): H. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm); W. 17 5/8 in. (44.8 cm); D. 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm); Wt. 5 lb. 3.9 oz. (2377 g); powder flask (c): H. 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm); Wt. 7.3 oz. (206 g); bullet mold (d): L. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm); Wt. 6.3 oz. (179 g); bullet mold (e): L. 4 13/16 in. (12.2 cm); Wt. 5.5 oz. (154 g); wrench/driver (f): L. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); Wt. .7 oz. (18 g); wrench/driver (g): L. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); Wt. .6 oz. (16 g); oil canister (h): H. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm); Wt. 1.2 oz. (32 g); oil canister (i): H. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm); Wt. 1.2 oz. (34 g); bone canister (j): H. 1 1/16 in. (2.7 cm); Wt. .5 oz. (12 g); glass vial (k): H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm); Wt. .3 oz. (9 g); glass vial (l): H. 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm); Wt. .2 oz. (5 g); glass vial (m): H. 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm); spare mainspring (n): L. 3 in. (7.6 cm); Wt. .4 oz. (11 g); spare mainspring (o): L. 3 in. (7.6 cm); Wt. .4 oz. (11 g)

Editor: This is an exquisitely decorated Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver, dating from sometime between 1848 and 1858. It’s inlaid with gold and showcases intricate engraving. It's such a stark contrast to how I usually think about weapons—much more decorative than destructive at first glance. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It's a fascinating paradox, isn't it? A tool of death elevated to an object of beauty, laden with symbolism. Think of the gold itself: a potent emblem of wealth, power, even divinity across cultures. But applied to a revolver? It becomes a statement, perhaps about dominance or control, and a means to assert those concepts in new territories. Do you see the figures and motifs in the engraving? Editor: I do; there are scenes with figures and landscapes woven throughout. Curator: Exactly. These weren’t merely aesthetic choices; they served to imprint specific narratives and ideologies. Who exactly was the gun for? Who was its owner hoping to impress? It reflects anxieties and aspirations of that time. The imagery may evoke conquest, protection, or some twisted notion of civilization being brought to the American West. The revolver isn’t simply a firearm; it's a concentrated dose of cultural memory. Editor: So the revolver transforms into more than just a weapon, becoming a sort of historical and psychological document, loaded with the symbols of its time. Curator: Precisely. Consider how those symbols persist, morph, and influence our understanding of violence and power even today. Each carefully crafted detail whispers volumes about the past. Editor: I never considered how much meaning could be embedded in a single object. Thanks, that gives me a lot to think about. Curator: And consider, these reflections push us to interrogate the symbols surrounding us right now, every day.