GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
FINE CIVIL WAR MARTIALLY MARKED COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. COLT 1860 135852 44 Cal. 44. Blue & color case hardened with 8" rnd bbl, nickel silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of frame has a small "COLTS PATENT". Frame is 3-screw type cut for shoulder stock with flat head hammer screw. The unplated brass trigger guard and blued steel back strap contain a martially marked 1-pc walnut grip with excellent fit that is a factory original Colt product, however the last four digits of the serial number recorded on the interior of the grip, in the backstrap channel read "0081", and do not match the rest of the gun. However, one would never know it from the fit. Left side of grip has a clear, legible inspector's cartouche and the right side a mostly legible cartouche. Grip does fit very well. Various parts have small inspector initials. Cylinder is rebated with six chambers and has the Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. All six safety pins are partial but serviceable. There were over 200,000 of these revolvers produced 1860-1873 of which the government purchased 127,156. They were the most widely distributed handgun in the Civil War and were popular with the troops for their hard-hitting 44 caliber ball/bullet. These revolvers remained in service with the military well into the 1870s until eventually replaced by the Model 1873 Single Action Army cartridge revolver. After the war they saw hard service on the frontier with several cavalry units and some infantry units. After they were replaced they were sold as surplus and remained in service for many years on the American frontier and around the world. They are rarely found today with any orig finish. PROVENANCE: Paul Sorrell Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except grip, as noted. Bbl retains 85-90% strong orig blue with an area of thinning on right side and with some pitting around the muzzle, very nice original feathering near sight, around ram rod latch and on the right side of the barrel near the ram rod pivot. Rammer pivot retains bright case colors and the handle faded case colors; frame retains about all of its lightly to moderately faded case colors, as does the hammer; cyl is a dull blue/brown patina and shows about 80% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking; trigger guard & front strap are a light yellow patina and the back strap retains about 80% thinning orig blue showing original feathering. Grip is sound with a couple of small nicks and retains a fine hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few spots of pitting. 52511-2 JR290 (7,000-9,000)