GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER PRODUCED IN 1880 WITH KOPEC LETTER.COLTSAA5463745 COLTCal 45. Colt. Usual configuration with 7-1/2" bbl, slightly altered front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and "U.S.". Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that is probably orig to this revolver, although any number that was in the backstrap channel has been obliterated with oil stains. Left side of the grip shows the oval cartouche "DAL" (Lt. David A. Lyle) inspector cartouche under the date "1880". Right side has the barely legible "DFC" (David F. Clark) sub inspector cartouche. Grip has 4 notches on the bottom left edge and 2 on the bottom right edge. Whether these notches represent men that the owner killed, gophers or skunks is unknown. Right center of the grip has the initials "JUD" or "TUD". The J is reversed which would make it a lower case t. Ejector housing is second type with bullseye ejector rod head and base pin is orig type with dimpled ends. Accompanied by a 2-page letter from renowned Colt Single Action collector, researcher and author, John A. Kopec wherein he details much of the above information. Mr. Kopec also correctly pointed out that the "DFC" sub inspector mark on the bbl is different from known specimens of that mark and that the individual digits of the SN on the bottom of the bbl differ from the other identical digits on the rest of the revolver. Whether this bbl was changed at a later date is unclear at this time. This revolver was part of a large order of Colt's from the fourth contract, delivered in 1880 and would have likely seen service with one of the Cavalry Regiments fighting Indians on the American frontier. The fact that it remains in orig configuration attests to the premise that it escaped the recall and conversion to artillery configuration in the 1890s and early 20th century. Whether it had been stolen, captured by hostiles or assigned to a militia unit is unknown as of this writing. CONDITION: About good, all matching except grip as noted. Orig finish remains only under the ejector housing and in the most sheltered areas. Screws are mostly in fine condition. Hammer retains dark case colors. Cylinder is a matching gray patina with an area of battering around one flute. Trigger guard & backstrap are a plummy brown patina. Grip is sound with a few light nicks and retains most of a fine hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with scattered fine pitting. 52506-13 JRL (4,000-7,000)