GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
EXCEPTIONAL CLARK INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.COLTSAA5562945 COLTCal. 45 Colt. Blue and color cased hardened with 7-1/2" bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of the frame has 3-line patent dates and "U.S.". Mounted with matching numbered, oil finish 1-pc walnut grip that has oval "DAL" (Lt. David A. Lyle) inspector cartouche under the date "1880" on the left side and a rectangular "DFC" (David F. Clark) sub-inspector cartouche on the right. Mr. Clark's initials also appear on the bottom right edge of the grip, on the cylinder, bottom of the bbl and bottom of the frame adjacent to the SN. Frame, trigger guard and buttstrap have full matching SNs and the bbl, cylinder and grip, in the backstrap channel, are marked with the last 4 digits of matching SN. Ejector housing is 2nd Type with bullseye ejector rod head and orig bronze colored spring. Base pin is orig type with dimpled ends. This revolver was among the early part of the 4th Contract produced in 1880. Several revolvers from this early 4th Contract are known to have been issued to both the 6th and 7th Cavalry as well as the Philippines Cebu police. The fact that this revolver remains in orig configuration with high orig conditioning attests to it having escaped the recalls of the 1890's and early 20th century where thousands of cavalry revolvers were returned to both Colt and Springfield Arsenal for conversion to artillery configuration. This is one of the finest Lyle/Clark inspected Cavalry revolvers extant. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching as noted above. Bbl retains 95-96% strong, glossy orig blue with distinct "feathers" on each side of the front sight and each side of the ejector housing stud. Frame retains about 98-99% crisp, bright, orig case colors with only faint sharp edge wear and some slight fading on the recoil shield and loading gate. Screws retain virtually all of their orig fire blue. Hammer retains about all of its orig case colors, moderately faded. Trigger guard and backstrap retain most of their orig factory blue with sharp edge wear and some dulling of the backstrap. Cylinder retains about 95% strong orig blue, lightly thinned on the outer diameter, strong and bright in the flutes. Chambers retain virtually all of their orig factory blue. Grip is sound with a few minor nicks and dings on the right side showing light edge wear and overall retains most of its orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny showing most of its orig blue bore with no evidence of ever having been fired. 51857-1 JRL (20,000-30,000)