October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
According to Kopec, revolver No. 16338 was manufactured in 1875 and in his opinion the grips appear to be from another 1875 revolver. A few of the guard screws are replacements. Cylinder is the early type with small notches and approaches, and flute inlets are partially beveled. Inspector marks include “P” and “T”. This revolver represents an extremely scarce variant of the Colt Cavalry revolver, the Ordnance sub-inspector who used the initial “L” was S.B. Louis and worked in conjunction with A.P. Casey at the Colt plant. The remnant cartouche is that of A.P. Casey, and his tiny initial “C” may be found on the right butt of this revolver. John goes into observations about the broken “T” on the barrel address, showing serial number range of broken die. His final comment is that there are only about a dozen recorded “L” Ordnance sub-inspector revolvers known to this survey (1988). These were inspected at the very outset of the 1875 series and are the scarcest of the three 1875 sub-inspectors. We have noted the letter “L” to be found on bottom of barrel, backstrap, trigger guard and cylinder. Left side of frame is stamped “US”. The cartouche that Kopec speaks of is visible but not readable if you did not know it was Casey. CONDITION: All metal is basically a smooth, homogenous, clean patina with some flashes of original blue in hidden areas. Two line patent on left side of frame. Indexes with all four distinct clicks. Bore exhibits sharp lands and grooves with a hint of frosting and a couple of very minor black powder abrasions. Super clean, untouched, all original early cavalry with note to grips.