GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
EXTREMELY RARE ROOSEVELT'S ROUGH RIDER ISSUED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. COLT 1873 SAA 7464 45 Cal 45 Colt. Blue finish with 5-1/2" bbl thinned front sight & 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and a small "U.S.". Ejector housing is 3rd type with bullseye ejector rod head and has the electric pencil 2-digit (64) matching SN on the inside radius. Mounted with a replacement 1-pc walnut grip with spurious number in backstrap channel. Bottom of bbl, under ejector housing has the SN "5758" and the cylinder is numbered "7545". Trigger guard & backstrap SN's have been restamped. The front strap, under the grip has a grip locator pin hole and sides of the hammer have been polished bright. Accompanied by a Colt Factory letter which shows that this revolver was in caliber 45 Colt, bbl length and type of stocks, not listed, blue finish and shipped to the U.S. Government on April 17, 1903 in a 200 gun shipment. The shipping date is consistent with those Cavalry revolvers returned to Colt for refurbishing and alteration into artillery models with 5-1/2" bbl. Also accompanied by a 2-page letter from renowned Colt historian & author, John Kopec wherein he reports much of the above information. He additionally states that this revolver had initially been issued to Troop "C" of the 5th Cavalry. He further reports that in 1893 many of the original Cavalry revolvers were recalled and subsequently refurbished into artillery configuration and then placed into service during 1898. He continues that this revolver, identified by SN in the U.S. Archives, shows that it was issued on June 20, 1898 to the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry (Rough Riders) and that it was issued to Trooper Charles M. Armstrong of Troop "I". The chart on page 111 of Cavalry & Artillery Revolvers, A Continuing Study, Kopec & Fenn discloses the same information about this revolver having been issued to Trooper Armstrong. Very few of identified arms used by the Rough Riders have ever surfaced. This is a rare opportunity to obtain a piece of American history. CONDITION: Good. Bbl & ejector housing retain 93-95% strong restored blue. Frame retains about 90% thin restored blue and the cylinder 88-90% restored blue. Grip frame shows sharp edge wear and retains most of its restored finish. Grip shows moderate to heavy wear and retains a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 51588-1 JRL (10,000-15,000)