GUN SPRING 2018
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/21/2018
COLT MODEL 1861 RICHARDS-MASON CARTRIDGE CONVERSION REVOLVER US NAVY ISSUE, FORMERLY IN COLLECTION OF AUTHOR R. BRUCE MCDOWELL.COLT1861695738CFCal. 38 CF. 7-1/2" bbl, blue and case color finish with brass trigger guard and backstrap and 1-pc American walnut grip. Bbl shows 1-line Colt New York address rolled on top. Naval inspector mark "R.W.M." followed by an anchor is struck on bottom of bbl behind ejector rod head. Revolver has mixed SNs. Frame and backstrap are numbered "6957". Bbl and trigger guard are numbered "4274". Cyl is numbered "3441" over "6699". Loading gate is "34". Frame has 2-line Colt patent address stamped over Colt's patent on left side of frame. Cyl shows a Naval engagement scene. "36 CAL" is stamped on left rear flat of trigger guard. Ejector rod head has correct bullseye design. This exact revolver is pictured on pgs 259 & 265 of A Study of Colt Conversions and Other Percussion Revolvers, R. Bruce McDowell. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Bbl retains 60-70% blue finish with some erosion toward the muzzle and a visible feather mark around the front sight. Bbl address is sharp. Inspector mark is sharp. Frame retains 20-30% orig muted case color finish. Markings are sharp, screws show traces of orig blue. Trigger guard and backstrap are mustard yellow patina with traces of silver in protected areas. Grip is very good with two small chips at toe and a few small handling marks. This revolver was purchased by the Navy on the civilian market, therefore the grip straps were silver-plated. Varnish was removed from the grip. Mechanics are crisp. Cyl retains 50% of scene, markings are sharp. Hammer shows traces of case color. Trigger shows traces of blue. An opportunity to own a Colt Navy conversion that was once in the collection of renowned author R. Bruce McDowell. 53044-1 TEP (4,000-6,000)