Nice pistol.  I once had the earliest serial number pistols of this model that I have seen.  Colt started out with 15,000.  I forgot the exact number, but mine was something like 15,3xx.  It would have been made circa 1850 and likely went west for the Gold Rush.  I regretfully had to sell it later. Nice piece of history...

He hasn't logged on since September 2023, unfortunately   He may have sold it, it was posted on Instagram in 2024: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBrFr_AuKJk/ 

Steve, thanks for your reply, yes it seems to my mind that hanging the pistol by a leather thong would not be very hard wearing, they obviously thought it the possible answer in order to produce enough for a trial. Kurt

Thanks, I found it about 30 years ago at an estate sale in San Diego.  jim

Thanks, Obx. I appreciated the additonal information.

Nice helmet. You can buy an NOS webbing tie for the liner pretty cheap and you should be good to go. 

I recently added another pistol to my Civil War acquisitions, a M1849 Pocket Pistol in .31 caliber and with a 6-inch barrel. A very common pistol used in studio shots during the Civil War. If you have watched "The Outlaw Josey Wales," at the point that Josey Wales and Sam Bottoms' character are accosted by two rather nasty individuals, Sam Bottoms character shoots one, and Josey shoots the other one with his M1849 pistol that he takes out of his vest pocket. In this case he uses the 4-inch barrel model, while this one, with the 6-inch barrel, looks more like the M1851 .36 caliber Navy model. It still retains the silver plating on the back strap and trigger guard, but the rest of the pistol looks like it spent quite a bit of time stored in a holster, and has scattered pitting over the frame, cylinder, barrel and loading lever. Internally it works fine, has strong lands and groves, and the five-shot cylinder is pretty clean. All the nipples are good as well. Overall a good addition. Also, all the numbers match and a check indicates the pistol was made in 1854.

I agree with @USCapturephotos that is a reproduction canteen.   Original stamped or impressed CS canteens are very rare.    

Hello guys,   I was wondering what your opinions on this knife are?  Specifically on the finish of the blade?  I thought it looked good but I had a guy look at it recently and he thought there was a chance the blade has been refinished.  I wouldn't consider him an expert but I just wanted to get more opinions.   Thanks

I'm sorry to say that it is a reproduction trying to appear somewhat like a Confederate "tin drum" canteen. There was one rare maker that made one marked "C S" but these are super rare. None were ever marked CSA I'm afraid. That could actually be an early reenactment piece made for the 100th anniversary in the mid 60's. Paul