GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
SCARCE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY RICHARDS CONVERSION REVOLVER. COLT 1860 ARMY 498606 44 CAL Cal 44 Colt. Blue and color case hardened with 8" rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York US America address. Left side of frame is marked "COLTS PATENT" and left shoulder trigger guard is marked 44 cal. Cyl is rebated with Ormsby naval battle scene roll marking on the major diameter. Recoil shield has the Richards conversion ring with integral rear sight and captive firing pin. The silver-plated brass trigger guard and iron backstrap contain a varnished 1-piece walnut grip with last 4 digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Bbl lug has an ejector housing in the rammer slot which has a replacement rod with an orig rod head. The rod is most unusual in that it is 7-12" long. Bottom of bbl & cyl have tiny British proofs. Left shoulder backstrap has a lightly struck mark which appears to be a tiny rampant Colt and a partial "C", which is the mark applied by Colt''s London Armory by the European manager Baron von Oppen, Samuel Colt''s brother-in-law. These marks were applied to discourage European makers from copying Colt revolvers. There were about 9,000 of these scarce revolvers produced by Colt 1873-1878. These revolvers, while limited production were the successor to the Thuer conversions and an important step in the evolution which ultimately became the venerable Model 1873 single action Army revolver. These revolvers usually saw very hard service, not only on the American frontier but literally around the world and are rarely found with high orig finish. PROVENANCE: The Estate of G. W. "Bill" Stewart of Sonora, Texas. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching except wedge, which is un-numbered and cyl as noted. Bbl retains 40-50% glossy orig blue with the balance flaked to a mottled, medium patina. Frame & hammer retain most of their orig case colors, lightly faded. Cyl retains about 30% thinning orig blue in the rebated area and shows about 85-90% Naval battle scene roll marking. Trigger guard retains traces of orig silver and the backstrap, traces of orig blue with fine pitting near the top and on the buttstrap. Mechanics are fine. Strong bore with good shine and light pitting. A scarce and desirable Colt. 49973-143 JR3 (3,500-6,000)