September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
Serial number is 14779, caliber is 45 long cut and the barrel length is 7 - 1/2". This Colt model 1878 Canadian Militia was manufactured in 1885 with a nickel finish, double action, six shot, gutta percha grips. The factory letter indicates that this revolver was one of a shipment of 120 guns sent to Hartley and Graham of New York City on April 14, 1885 for delivery to the Canadian Militia and defense. According to the excellent book on Canadian military revolvers, the April 14 shipment was the fourth sent to the Canadian government, all of which were factory nickel except for 50 blue guns. The sum total of guns shipped between April 6 and April 25 was 690 revolvers. The hostilities, now referred to as the Reil Rebellion, came to a head in March 1885. Reil was defeated on May 12. Given the short time between the shipments and the end of this conflict, the majority of these revolvers did not see use in that campaign but were subsequently used in other Canadian conflicts. The left side of the frame is stamped 48. MD. The gun is in excellent working order but has seen use. The right side of the barrel retains approximately 85% original factory nickel while the top and left side retain approximately 20% finish. The frame retains approximately 65% original nickel overall while the cylinder remains at about 30%. The revolver has not been cleaned and the balance of the finish is a smooth brown patina. The screws, trigger and back of hammer retain the majority of the original factory fire blue finish. The original grips are near mint and the standard lanyard loop is present at butt. Lock up is tight as new. Functions flawless in both single and double action. It has a strong rifled bore with usual abrasions caused by black powder cartridges. These are very interesting early frontier revolvers that saw use North of the border during the turbulent era of the Canadian-American frontier.