Advice on Colt 1851

I have a chance to buy a Colt C Series 1851 Navy at what seems to be a pretty good price ($300) - seller is 150 miles away and I've only seen pictures and it doesn't appear to have been fired or if it was it was cleaned and put up. I know nothing about the actual Colts and wonder if there are certain things I should look for? Seller is legit (private owner, not a shop) but with the distance involved it'll end up being shipped and all I'm going to see are pictures unless I want to make the drive.

Columbus said:

I have a chance to buy a Colt C Series 1851 Navy at what seems to be a pretty good price ($300) - seller is 150 miles away and I've only seen pictures and it doesn't appear to have been fired or if it was it was cleaned and put up. I know nothing about the actual Colts and wonder if there are certain things I should look for? Seller is legit (private owner, not a shop) but with the distance involved it'll end up being shipped and all I'm going to see are pictures unless I want to make the drive.

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Over all they are like any other C & B. Ask him if you don't like it, if you can send it back.

I would ask for several pictures of the revolver. That way you would get a better idea of the condition. Also ask for a picture of the back strap. If it has the Colt ‘signature’, it is a Signature Series Colt, and not a Second Generation Colt. Both a generally good guns. The Second Generation Colts are more desirable.

From the photo you supplied, I didn’t notice any drag marks on the cylinder, so it may have only been slightly handled, or it is well tuned. The asking price seems to be pretty reasonable, even very good. I would also ask if it has the original box and paperwork. Those items usually inflate the price/ value of the revolver.

Per Colt.com serial number look up the subject 1851 Navy was made in 1975 so definitely a C Series, 2nd Generation reissue if all the other serial numbers match.

$300 is a very good price if everything checks out including bore condition.

2nd Generation Colt reissues have been discussed here quite a few times over the years. Suggest you do some searches and read the threads. Post any further questions you have.

It is late so have to get some sleep; gun show tomorrow.

$300 ??
if the rest of it looks as good as the photo.....i'd rip the guys arm off grabbing it from him.
although the slightly shallowed screw heads and blued ring just before the 0 on the s/n make me wonder if it's not polished and re-blued.....also a cpl. of blued pits between the nipples visible.
i'd still jump it if it's not shot out.

Screw heads look to have been ineptly buffed out to reblue. Or, they may have been buggered up by a poorly fit screwdriver, then reblued.

Definitely ask about the bore and condition of the chambers.