GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
FINE COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER FROM THE LAST CONTRACT WITH FACTORY LETTER. COLT SAA 131615 45 COLT Cal. 45 Colt. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2" bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left front side of frame has 3-line patent dates and "U.S". Mounted with oil finished 1-pc walnut grip that has the large "SEB" (Capt. Stanhope E. Blunt) inspector cartouche under the date 1890. Right side has the large "RAC" (Rinaldo A. Carr) sub-inpector cartouche. Mr. Carr's initials also appear one the bottom edge of grip, bottom of bbl, bottom of frame and cyl. The "mystery" "K" inspector initial appears on the trigger guard and butt strap. Ejector housing is third type with half-moon ejector rod head and base pin is proper type without dimples. Accompanied by a Colt Factor letter addressed to Mr. R.H. Vanyek, dated Aug. 22, 1962 which identifies this revolver in cal 45, blue finish with 7-1/2" bbl, type of stock not listed and delivered to the U.S. gov't inspector at the Colt plant on Apr. 30, 1890 in a 270 gun shipment. SN was observed in the usual places on the frame, trigger guard and butt strap with last four digits of matching no. on bottom of bbl and cyl. Back strap channel of the grip has the last four digits "1574", obviously that of another revolver from the same shipment. Grips were probably mixed during a cleaning session in an armory or in the field. The fact that this revolver remains in original configuration attests to the premise that it escaped the recalls of the 1890's and early 20th century where thousands of Calvary revolvers were converted to Artillery configuration. Very likely this revolver was assigned to a Calvary militia unit or was possibly stolen by a deserting soldier. Also accompanied by a box of twelve Frankford Arsenal Revolver Ball Cartridges dated 1878. This revolver was part of the 12th and 13th contracts for 2000 such items manufactured 1890-1891. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except grip, as noted above. Bbl retains about 93-95% strong original blue with light muzzle end holster wear and a couple of small dings. Front sight shows strong "feathers" on each side and on each side of the ejector rod stud. Frame retains about all of its orig case colors, strong and bright in the most sheltered areas, light to moderate fading elsewhere. Hammer retains brilliant case colors on sides and rear edge, faded on top edge. Hammer screw fire blue has faded with the other screws retaining most of their bright, shiny fire blue. Trigger guard and front strap retain about 95% bright original blue with the backstrap showing strong blue at the top and on the butt strap having worn to blue/grey patina elsewhere. Cyl retains about 85% original blue with sharp edge wear and thinning on the outer diameter, strong and bright in the flutes. Chambers of the cyl and bore retain most of their strong original blue indicating that the revolver has been fired very little. Grip is sound showing moderate edge wear with a couple of small chips and dings and retains most of its orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Cartridge box has repaired broken edges, pull string is intact. 52527-15 JRL (17,500-25,000) W/AMMO