GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
RARE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER WITH THUER CARTRIDGE CONVERSION- AS PICTURED ON THE COVER OF BRUCE MCDOWELL'S BOOK ON COLT CONVERSIONS.COLT1860 ARMY17857744Cal. 44. 8" bbl. Blue and case color finish with silver plated brass trigger guard, and iron backstrap. Bbl shows 1-line New York address on top with German silver front-sight. Bbl shows correct gain twist rifling. Frame is of the 3-screw variety not cut for stock, with Colt's patent stamped on forward left side. Recoil shield has a small "A" inspector mark on face. Trigger guard has "44cal" stamped on left rear flat. SN matches on frame, bbl, trigger guard, backstrap, arbor, and grip. Wedge is not numbered. Last 3-digits of SN is on cyl. No. "20" is stamped on rear face of cyl and rear of conversion ring. Conversion ring is stamped "Pat. Sep. 15, 1868". Rear of loading plunger has correct hole tapped for Thuer loading device. Front face of hammer has hardened rnd disc inserted. These 2 features are necessary for a true Thuer conversion. This exact gun is pictured on pages 82, 86, and 87 of McDowell's book on Colt Conversion pistols and is also featured on the cover as noted above. Included with the gun is a very rare .44 cal Thuer cartridge. These cartridges are rare and hard to find! PROVENANCE: Ex Bruce McDowell Coll. CONDITION: Very good. Bbl is a smooth mottled gray-brown finish overall with a sharp bbl mark and a bore that appears un-fired. Frame is also a smooth gray-brown patina, with traces of case color on face of recoil shield. Trigger guard is a mustard-yellow patina with some slight bruising around SN. Markings are clear. Backstrap is a silver-gray patina, with traces of blue on the apron and a clear mark. Cyl is also a silver-gray patina with sharp markings. Cyl scene is very good with some roughness on about 1/3 of surface. Engaged mark is clear. Conversion ring has clear markings with traces of blue in protected areas and a sharp "E" engraved. Grips are very good, slightly undersized with some dents and scratches, and a fresh coat of varnish. Truly a wonderful Conversion with great provenance and well recognized by any serious Colt Pistol Student. 50470-1 TEP (8,000-12,000)