November 5th & 6th 2016 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/5/2016
This revolver was manufactured in 1874. Marked with two line patent date and "U.S." on left side of frame. All matching numbers as follows: frame, trigger guard, backstrap, cylinder, barrel under ejector rod housing and "2829" in pencil in the one piece walnut channels. The walnut grips have a faint visible cartouche on left panel “O.W.A.” for Orville W. Ainsworth (faint, but readable). Inside the grip channel, the previous owner has the following inscription “J.E. Charlan 5-31-31”. The barrel has the italic barrel address style No. 42, which can be found on image 1-19A in the book “Cavalry and Artillery Revolvers” by Kopec. Has an early Type 1 hammer spur. Excellent, clean, strong bore. The front sight has original profile and has not been filed. All metal surfaces are a smooth plum clean patina with no cancer. Brilliant blue evident on barrel under ejector rod housing. Grips are very good to excellent with some minor chipping on left side, otherwise excellent. Most of the screws show some minor marring. All legends and numbers are extremely sharp and crisp. The back of hammer still has traces of case colors. Muzzle is slightly rounded from holster carry. Has the proper donut ejector rod head. The grip strap has the “A” Ainsworth inspector stamp. Bottom of barrel has a small proof “P”. Action locks up tight as new. This is an extremely clean, crisp early Ainsworth inspected Colt U.S. Cavalry Model. It has been completely disassembled and inspected. The Ainsworth Cavalry Colts are amongst the most desirable of all early U.S. handguns due to the hard use and subsequent arsenal overhauling program. Clean original examples from the early days of the Indian Wars, that have not been messed with, are extremely difficult to locate.