GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
EXTREMELY FINE CIVIL WAR MARTIALLY MARKED COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. COLT 1860 8099C 44 Cal. 44. This is an extremely fine example of a martial late-1862 US cavalry purchased Colt Army revolver. Blue and color case hardened with 8" rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line U.S. America address. Frame has "COLT'S PATENT" stamped on left side and is 3-screw style. Cyl is usual rebated style with 6-chambers and Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. All of the safety pins are serviceable. The brass trigger guard and iron backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip with last four digits of SN found in grip channel. Both sides of grip have inspector cartouches "JT" (John Taylor) and possibly "GDS"; most of the metal parts have inspector initials. According to Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms about 127,000 Model 1860 revolvers were purchased by the Federal Government for use in the Civil War. The vast majority of these revolvers were issued to front line troops and was the most extensively used handgun throughout the Civil War. This particular example is totally original and matching in every regard and has identical condition from muzzle to butt, you can not find a more honest Civil War example in such extremely fine functional condition with a scarce matching accompanying inspected "COLT'S PATENT" 2-cavity bullet mold. PROVENANCE: The collection of Robert Roughton. CONDITION: Fine to very fine overall, all matching and orig. Bbl retains about 70-80% orig blue though thinning with dings and dents around wedge slot. "Feathering" in finish is easily discerned around sight and loading arm catch. Frame, hammer, and loading arm retain strong traces of their bright case colors with balance muted and grey/silver. Cylinder finish has turned rather plum with only traces of its bright blue finish in protected areas. Shows virtually all of its crisp and well discerned Ormsby Naval battle scene. Trigger guard exhibits a smooth yellow brass patina. Backstrap and buttstrap retain about 50% of their thinning orig blue finish with the balance gray. Grip is sound, solid, well fit with very good discernible inspector cartouches with edge wear as can be seen in photos. Mechanics are excellent and bore is crisp, shiny and well discerned. Wedge retaining spring is present, however has become detached and can be removed when wedge is pulled from revolver. Frame screws show evidence of having been disassembled with an ill fitting screwdriver at a much earlier period. Accompanying mold is very good to fine overall, retaining traces of finish with staining and pitting, well marked "44H" above inspection initials "AHK" (Albert H. Kirkham). 53079-15 JS (4,000-6,000) W/BULLET MOLD