GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
VERY RARE FOREHAND & WADSWORTH OLD MODEL ARMY REVOLVER. FOREHAND & WADSWORTH OLD MODEL ARMY 196 44 RUSSIAN Cal. 44 Russian. Blue and nickel finish with 7-1/2" bbl, half moon front sight and 2-line address. It has 6-shot fluted cyl and is mounted with 2-pc smooth burl walnut grips, matching numbered to this revolver. Trigger and hammer are color case hardened. Frame, bbl, and trigger guard are blued. Cylinder, ejector and front sight are nickel. This unusual combination of nickel and blue appears orig to the time of use of this gun though nothing in the literature notes such a combination of finishes. Markings are all discernible including SNs found on major parts including frame, cylinder and grips as noted. Bbl address "+ FOREHAND & WADSWORTH. WORCESTER, MASS U.S. PAT''D OCT. 22 ''61 - JUNE 27 ''71 - OCT. 28 ''73+". This is the first old model Army by this maker we have ever offered, only a few hundred guns are thought to have been made in the mid-1870''s. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Very good to fine overall. Nickel on cylinder is 95%+ intact with some freckling, drag line. Blue is 95% with muzzle wear. In our opinion, finish is old, possibly contemporary restoration. Stocks are sound and solid with scattered small dings, dents and scratches and hand worn patina. Mechanically gun is sound with crisp fine shiny bore. 49059-135 JS (2,000-3,000)