October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
This cavalry revolver has the three line patent date on left side and is stamped "US". All matching serial numbers on frame, trigger guard, backstrap, cylinder and barrel. Left grip is dated 1884 and has Frank Heath inspector cartouche in oval. Right grip has visible but not readable but should be "DFC" for David Clarke. The "DFC" stamp can be found on the bottom of the barrel with "P", on frame and cylinder. Assembly number "787" on loading gate. Colt address and patent date legends are sharp. Has the early bullseye ejector head. Lovely one piece walnut grips. All screws heads are straight. Gun is basically a rich, smooth brown patina. All four Colt clicks and lines up. Barrel has strong, well defined rifling with minor abrasion. Comes with a Colt factory letter that shows it was shipped on January 1885 in 200 guns to the United States Government. Also comes with a John Kopec letter where he states "This revolver was manufactured during the latter part of 1884. It was Ordnance inspected by Captain Frank Heath. sub-inspector was David F. Clarke." He could not find the revolver in the National Archives. There were 1,000 Frank Heath Ordnance revolvers inspected in 1884 in two lots of 500 units, November 7th and December 4th, this gun was included in one of these two lots. In looking over this revolver we find that it is original as far as all markings, in sharp condition having never been buffed or polished. Revolver has been nicely browned over its entire surface. Markings are distinct. Grips display an outstanding example of Captain Frank Heath's Ordnance cartouche. He further notes that since factory states shipment on January 7th, this was a hold over, or that the new year date stamp in house at the time to stamp "1885".
Model
Single Action Army Calvary