Some of you pre German Empire guys might find this interesting.

Allegedly a Prussian Navy Colt 1851 holster. Crown M stamp is pretty worn.

fireman said:

Allegedly a Prussian Navy Colt 1851 holster. Crown M stamp is pretty worn.

Stewarts Military Antiques - - German, Mid-19th Century, Prussian Navy Marked Holster & Spare Cartridge Pouch, 1851 Colt Navy Pistol - $595.00

- German, Mid-19th Century, Prussian Navy Marked Holster & Spare Cartridge Pouch, 1851 Colt Navy Pistol: Original era manufacture. This is an interesting German made holster, with a great story regarding how the Prussian Navy acquired it's first repeating pistol.Prussian customs officials...

stewartsmilitaryantiques.com

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Yeah, these are a neat story.

If memory serves, these were bound for Russia during the Crimean War and were impounded by the Prussian Customs. The Prussians were technically neutral in the conflict and prohibited transfer of any foreign arms within their borders. The Prussians kept about 1,000 of the impounded revolvers and sold the rest.

These are fairly uncommon and usually command a decent price.

I always find oppressive bureaucracy like this example insulting, but I have to laugh otherwise my head would explode.

I recently bought some stocks and parts from a junk shop on ebay. I tracked the company down and inquired with them where they got the parts (some really obscure stuff!!!) and the woman responded that the owner had purchased 35 semi trailers of contraband, intercepted and seized by US Customs.

chrisftk said:

Yeah, these are a neat story.

If memory serves, these were bound for Russia during the Crimean War and were impounded by the Prussian Customs. The Prussians were technically neutral in the conflict and prohibited transfer of any foreign arms within their borders. The Prussians kept about 1,000 of the impounded revolvers and sold the rest.

These are fairly uncommon and usually command a decent price.

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That is my understanding as well. I don't know if the Colts were marked? It would make sense that they were but I have no idea. I should ask over on the Colt forum.

Fal Grunt said:

I always find oppressive bureaucracy like this example insulting, but I have to laugh otherwise my head would explode.

I recently bought some stocks and parts from a junk shop on ebay. I tracked the company down and inquired with them where they got the parts (some really obscure stuff!!!) and the woman responded that the owner had purchased 35 semi trailers of contraband, intercepted and seized by US Customs.

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Government=pirates and thieves in matching uniforms.

The revolvers and powder flasks were property marked as well.

https://www.gdanskstrefa.com/gdanskie-kolty-z-dzikiego-zachodu/

I got a little excited when I opened that link. Then I realized I have cataloged that holster already.

Colt 1851
In 1855 England, France and the Ottoman Empire were fighting Russia in the Crimean War. While not a belligerent, Prussia had closed its borders to all arms shipment to Russia. With the British Navy blockading the Baltic, Russia was effectively cut off from any arms shipments from the United States. Colt had been marketing his revolvers throughout Europe, and had succeeded in getting an order from Russia for 3,000 .36 caliber Model 1851 Navy revolvers during a visit to St. Petersburg the previous year, a contract that he could no longer deliver.
It isn’t known for sure, but correspondence between Samuel Colt and his brother J.B. seems to indicate that Colt blamed J.B. for the disaster of having the shipment confiscated. In addition to the financial damage, this was a major embarrassment for Colt, who was actively negotiating to sell arms to Great Britain, only to be caught also selling to their enemy. In any event, Colt, and his Berlin representative Charles Wappenhans, spent more than two years trying to get his pistols released without success. Finally, in 1858, the Prussian government decided to issue 1,000 of the pistols to the Navy and sell the remainder at auction.

The pistols were each stamped with a “K.M.” property mark and a weapon number on the top of the grip, just behind the hammer. The pistols were issued with the confiscated Colt powder flasks, nipple wrenches and bullet molds, along with German made holsters, cappers and nipple cleaning needles. The flasks, cappers and wrenches were also marked with the “KM” and number. An article in the Allgemeine Militär-Zeitung from December 25, 1858 indicated that the 1,000 pistols were in Danzig for issue in the coming year.

33015/Colt/-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-/KM 750 ("this pistol comes with Prussian made pistol holster and pouch. This pistol comes with the following. Pistol capping tool. Capping tool is just marked KM. Pistol powder flask. Flack is unit mark K.M. 378 Capping tool is marked KM Two chamber pistol bullet mold. Mold is not unit marked.") Sold at Morphy Auction on 10-23-2019
33323/Colt/-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-/KM 912 (Don't know if the owner has any accessories for the pistol.)
33405/Colt/-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-/KM 422 (Don't know if the owner has any accessories for the pistol.)
32509/Colt/-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-/KM 529 (The back strap also has the following spurious inscription: "Cu/Wilhelm Meinhardt/MARZ. 14. 1854/Von Franz Joseph I" on the back and "Fur Ritterlich" (For Chivalry/Gallantry) on the butt. The holster has a pouch containing the capper which also has a lanyard connecting it to the holster flap and a second pouch for holder paper cartridges. The back of the holster has "799." in white paint, and these accessories all have "KM" markings, and the flask has "K.M./812.") Sold at RIA on 5-5-2019
107022/Colt/-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-/KM 63 (This pistols flask was found on a website separated from the pistol but I do not know if flask has been reunited with the pistol. Flask unit mark is KM 63.
113643/Colt/-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-/KM 486 (this pistol comes with Prussian made pistol holster and pouch. Also comes with a pistol capping tool. Capping tool is marked KM 375.

Prussian 1851 holsters
Prussian Navy marked holster & spare cartridge pouch. Holster unit is KM 201.
Prussian Navy marked holster & spare cartridge pouch. Capping tool with this holster and spare cartridge pouch is marked KM 11
Prussian Navy marked holster & spare cartridge pouch. KM on the pouch. ("Fair condition and guaranteed original antique Prussian Navy holster for the Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver. Marked on the flap with “crown KM” Navy property marking. Leather shows heavy wear and some loss. Flap strap is torn, and most of the capping tool pouch is absent. The integral spare cylinder/cartridge pouch is missing the flap, and the muzzle plug is also absent.")

MichaelWC said:

In 1855 England, France and the Ottoman Empire were fighting Russia in the Crimean War. While not a belligerent, Prussia had closed its borders to all arms shipment to Russia. With the British Navy blockading the Baltic, Russia was effectively cut off from any arms shipments from the United States. Colt had been marketing his revolvers throughout Europe, and had succeeded in getting an order from Russia for 3,000 .36 caliber Model 1851 Navy revolvers during a visit to St. Petersburg the previous year, a contract that he could no longer deliver.
It isn’t known for sure, but correspondence between Samuel Colt and his brother J.B. seems to indicate that Colt blamed J.B. for the disaster of having the shipment confiscated. In addition to the financial damage, this was a major embarrassment for Colt, who was actively negotiating to sell arms to Great Britain, only to be caught also selling to their enemy. In any event, Colt, and his Berlin representative Charles Wappenhans, spent more than two years trying to get his pistols released without success. Finally, in 1858, the Prussian government decided to issue 1,000 of the pistols to the Navy and sell the remainder at auction.

The pistols were each stamped with a “K.M.” property mark and a weapon number on the top of the grip, just behind the hammer. The pistols were issued with the confiscated Colt powder flasks, nipple wrenches and bullet molds, along with German made holsters, cappers and nipple cleaning needles. The flasks, cappers and wrenches were also marked with the “KM” and number. An article in the Allgemeine Militär-Zeitung from December 25, 1858 indicated that the 1,000 pistols were in Danzig for issue in the coming year.

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That's a great summary. That was from Colt forum, right? Looks familiar.

Glad you are tracking these.

chrisftk said:

That's a great summary. That was from Colt forum, right? Looks familiar.

Glad you are tracking these.

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It's a mixture between the Colt and Luger forums. I mostly collect data on unit marked holsters. I know most of holsters are KM marked. If they are missing or didn't receive a issued or inventory number. I don't Catalog it. I probably would have gone insane a long time ago if I did that.