Dug up pistol (pics)

[ousooners1baby]

What do you guys think it is?  The story is, family owned property for over 100 years, dug up recently and sold for $75. He is asking his money back.

[Ranger99]

my amateur unlearned opinion
is that that there peestola
hasn't been in the ground
for 100 years. some of the
more informed members will
have to make a better judgement.

[m-g Willy]

I bet you could find some Itialian proof marks somewhere on it.

[mcwoodduck]

Did colt make a brass frame 1851? 
I know the condererates military made or had made Brass framed guns but I was not sure they made 51 Navy models.  I could be wrong. 
The grips also look to be a different wood than walnut, but that could just be the picture.  But it looks like a kit gun from the 80's And unless it was in soft clay I would expect there to be less of the gun.  The nipples still look to have a hard edge. 
Get a picture of the barell.  That will tell if there are any proof marks from Italy.   
My 1860 Colt cpoy has Italian Proof marks on the right side of hte barrel and on the left it says Black Powder 44.  If it is real and not a copy it would not say black powder as Nitro powders were 30 years away. 

[mechanic]

I've brought up a lot of civil war relics with my metal detector.  None of them came close to being that good.  I don't believe it's 100 yrs. old...but then I've been wrong a couple times before....
Ben

[JonnyReb]

 I'm eagerly awaiting updates..

 I also am figuring Italian replica.. did see a dug up Colt at my local shop..they were asking 800 and got it evidently.  j

  Here is my unintended find while carving out a road to the end of the property behind my house. I have no idea how long it was underground but would guess 75+, it was beadblasted and oiled after being unearthed. It is apprx a 20ga and is for blackpowder. It now looks 1000 times better than when i dug it up.

[williamlayton]

Ashes to ashes, comes to mind !
I still would like for those to be able to talk-----just sayin!
Blessings

[1911crazy]

Well when i was logging i was cutting access paths for the dozer to make roads while they followed my cut path thst was laid out by the state forest ranger.  They unearthed horse and buggy metal parts in one area. Someday i would like to go back with a metal detector.   In another area there was an old foundation from a black smith shop were s been  that Jefferson had his horse reshoed there.  In the dirt floor foundation if you ran your hands  the leaves/dirt you can up with all the old leather harnesses. Since then they dozed it for a parking .   1911zy