October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
Offered is a Custer Era Ainsworth inspected Single Action Army. You will find full or partial matching serial numbers under barrel, frame, trigger guard, backstrap and cylinder. You will find No. 345 under barrel, ejector housing and loading gate. Barrel legend is sharp. Frame has two line patent with "US" stamped on left side. The "A" inspector mark can be found on the cylinder, barrel, trigger guard and backstrap. Bottom of barrel is also stamped with a "P" with serifs. CONDITION: Front sight has been widened with silver solder and lowered/filed. All screw heads are extremely sharp. The period one piece walnut grips have a visible cartouche on left side with small chip at front sight. Right side also has small chip at front toe and three kill notches; no visible cartouche. All metal is basically a soft, pleasing patina. Bore exhibits extremely strong lands and grooves with just minor black powder residue. Retains all four Colt clicks, locking up like a bank vault. An extremely nice, early Ainsworth Cavalry revolver. Kopek letter states that this revolver was fitted with an old style mainspring found on 1860 Colts and was returned to Colt on 9-24-53 to be completely refinished into as new condition; this can be found under the trigger guard and all component parts are stamped with refinishing No. 345. In January of 1994, this refinish was removed and the revolver got a light browning to all its components, resembling natural brown patina. The barrel address is totally original and has not been reapplied. Grips fitted to this revolver are original but the "OWA" Ainsworth cartouche is a facsimile. The sub-inspector "A" has been reapplied to the barrel and trigger guard. The dowel that stabilizes the ejector tube is a domed replacement and ejector head is a reproduction. there is a crack adjacent to the front guard screw. Front sight has a nickel silver shim soldered on right side. This is a great example of a conserved Custer era Colt Cavalry revolver.