GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
RARE COLT MODEL 1861 NAVY THUER CONVERSION REVOLVER.COLTMODEL 18613321736Cal. 36 Thuer. Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2" rnd bbl. German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of bbl has tiny British proofs. Left side of frame is marked "COLTS PATENT" and left shoulder of trigger guard is marked "36 cal". The silver plated trigger guard and backstrap contain a varnished 1-piece walnut grip with last four digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Cyl is orig Thuer manufacture, however is not British proofed. Cyl & conversion ring have assembly #57 and the cyl has 4 digits of SN 6635. The loading slot in the bbl lug has not been extended, however the rammer nose has been threaded for a Thuer loading tool. Bottom of the bbl lug is marked in very tiny letters & numbers "J.R / 18571". No indication of the meaning of this stamping. While the Thuer patents were not the genesis of the center fire cartridge they were an extremely important step in the evolution of Colt's center fire cartridge revolvers. These revolvers were readily accepted by the buying public and although they had a short production span they usually saw hard service and are rarely found today in high orig finish. PROVENANCE: The Collection of Joel Hankinson. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except wedge which is properly un-numbered. Cyl is also not matching numbered. One publication notes that Thuer cylinders were sold for conversion outside the factory. Bbl retains 40-50 % glossy orig blue with the balance flaked, not worn to a medium patina. The rammer handle retains most of its bright case colors. Frame & hammer retain virtually all of their brilliant orig case colors and the screws, thin blue. Trigger guard retains about 75-80% orig silver and the backstrap, traces of orig silver. Grip is sound, showing sharp edge wear with a few nicks & dings and overall retains 92-93% strong orig varnish. Cyl & Thuer conversion ring are a light brown patina. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 50054-2 JR2 (8,000-12,000)