GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
SCARCE COLT MODEL 1861 NAVY RICHARDS MASON CONVERSION REVOLVER. COLT 1861 CONVERSION 31314 38 CF Cal. 38 CF. Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2" bbl, nickel silver front sight & 1-line address. Right side of bbl lug has an attached ejector housing with bulls eye ejector rod head. Rammer slot is filled. Left side of frame is marked with "1871" and "1872" patent dates in 2-lines. Left shoulder of trigger guard is marked "36 Cal". Cylinder has the Ormbsy Naval battle scene roll marking and last 3 digits "818" of its orig revolver''s SN with last 3 digits "314" of matching SN to this revolver. The silver plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip with last 4 digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Cylinder has British proofs, alternating between chambers. However, bbl is not British proofed, indicating that this revolver was not shipped to England but that the cyl was simply recycled from another revolver. According to Flayderman''s Guide to Antique American Firearms and The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson there were about 2200 Model 1861 Navy revolvers converted at the factory, of which this is one. They were converted in 3 groups which includes about 1200 returned to the factory for alteration, about 1000 returned by the US Navy for alteration and the balance of about 1000 manufactured from previously unused parts. All of the alteration was performed in the mid-1870s. These slim, functional revolvers were very popular and saw hard service and are rarely found today with high orig finish. They remain in service well into the late-1870s or later until fully supplanted by more modern revolvers. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Phil A. Bleakney, Jr. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except wedge which is properly unnumbered. Bbl retains about 65% glossy orig blue with an area turned brown toward the breech end. Ejector housing retains about 50% blue with the outer radius a brown patina. Frame & hammer retain strong, bright case colors, faded on the recoil shield & loading gate. Cylinder retains 60-65% strong blue and shows about 75-80% roll marking. Chambers retain most of their orig blue. Trigger guard & backstrap retain about 75-80% strong, orig silver with some minor flaking on the trigger-bow and front strap just behind the trigger bow. Buttstrap shows moderate wear with some light battering. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore, has been fired but very little. 49059-100 JR (7,500-12,500)