June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Manufactured 1876. The majority of early production Colt Armies were supplied to the military, therefore making commercial examples extremely scarce. This gun is finished to identical specifications as the military model with blue and case colored finish, 7 - 1/2" barrel, .45 Colt and one piece walnut grips. You will find matching numbers on barrel, frame, trigger guard and backstrap with a mismatched cylinder number 3231. No military inspector stamps. Features an early high front sight (unaltered), screw in frame, donut head ejector, two line frame address. ".45 CAL" stamped on left trigger bow. Barrel retains approximately 20% original factory high polish blue, most of which is under ejector housing; balance is a soft grey patina. Trigger guard retains approximately 50% bright blue, straps have thinned to gun metal grey with bright blue at top. Frame retains approximately 40% color, some bright. Cylinder retains approximately 50% factory blue, balance patina. Grips are excellent having been revarnished. Screws are basically straight. Hammer exhibits strong colors. Indexes and locks up tight. Strong, clean, near mint bore. Far above average condition for this scarce revolver with regards to misnumbered cylinder.
The factory letter for serial number 31224 on the revolver states it was shipped on December 30, 1876 to Schuyler, Harley and Graham in New York, New York, while the factory letter for the serial number 33231 on the cylinder states it was too was shipped on December 30, 1876 but to Spies Kissam and Company also in New York, New York. One can only guess at the possibility that the factory had made an assembly error mismatching the cylinder and the revolver. Both factory historical letters are included with this revolver.