GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
SCARCE COLT MODEL 1861 NAVY CONVERSION REVOLVER. COLT 1861 CONVERSION 20019 38 CF Cal. 38 CF. Nickel finish with 7-1/2" rnd bbl, full front sight & l-line New-York U.S. America address. Bbl lug has the rammer slot filled and an ejector housing with bullseye ejector rod head attached to the right side. Frame is marked with patent dates 1871 & 1872 in 2-lines on left side and also has caliber marking on left shoulder of trigger guard. The silver plated brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a 1-pc varnished walnut grip with last 4 digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Cylinder is the orig, converted from percussion and has the Ormsby naval battle scene roll marking. Conversion is Richards-Mason style with the firing pin center mounted in the hammer nose and secured with 2 rivets. There were about 2200 of these revolvers produced in the mid-1870s mostly from previously unused orig parts with a number of others converted for the US Navy and a few converted for civilians who sent their revolvers in to Colt, this being one of them. These revolvers were very popular for their graceful lines and ease of handling with mild recoil but still a reasonably powerful cartridge. They are rarely found today with high orig finish. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except wedge which is properly unnumbered. Overall retains about 95% strong orig nickel with a few nicks on right side of frame. Cylinder retains 95-97% strong orig nickel and shows about 90% roll marking. Hammer retains brilliant case colors, turned a little dark on top edge. Grip frame retains about 30% orig silver with the balance a lemony patina. Grip has chipped toes otherwise is sound a with a few light nicks & edge wear. And retains about 95% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine. Strong, moderately pitted bore. 49059-69 JR (5,000-8,000)