--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No original finish left on this pistol….but the markings are “quite” clear.
These “martially marked” 51 Navies are becoming increasingly difficult to find.
The 51 Navies purchased by the U.S. Army are known (among collectors) as Navy-Armies and had brass back straps and small rounded brass trigger guards.
The U.S. Navy purchased 51 Navies with iron back straps with large rounded iron trigger guards.
Government purchased 51 Navies will have "US" stamped on the left frame under the Colts Patent marking as shown in the photo below as well a final acceptance stamp on the grip panels, with inspectors markings on various parts of the pistol.
In the case of this gun the inspector was M. Moulton with initials M.M on the left grip panel.
Sidearms were often privately purchased and the absence of the markings referred to above will indicate a civilian gun.
(Not Government purchased for issue to the military.)
Note the inspector's initial "C" on the trigger guard.
These single initials are also stamped on the brass back strap and cylinder."
From:http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=7131 with a number of pictures of the pistol. Was M. Moulton and Army Inspector? Stan