April 11-13, 2023 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2023
1874 vintage Colt Cavalry Single Action Army revolver, serial number 3735. 7 - 1/2" barrel chambered in .45 Colt with script single line barrel address with serifs on either end, blade front sight, and "V" frame notch rear. O.W. Ainsworth inspection mark, letter "A" observed on trigger guard, cylinder, and backstrap. Government inspection proof mark "P" observed on barrel and cylinder. Left side of frame is marked "U.S." Frame is marked "C" inside hammer channel. Cylinder pin and retaining screw are frozen in place with cylinder pin partially forward covering "A" inspector mark on barrel, making removal of cylinder for observing "A" inspector mark on cylinder faces difficult to examine. Single piece plain walnut grips. Comes with an unmarked 1900s era hand tooled, chamois lined commercial holster fitted for a Colt 5 - 1/2" SAA. Complete with John A. Kopec letter documenting serial number 3735 with following comments: A driver's license number has been scratched on buttstrap and butt screw is a modern replacement, cylinder pin retaining screw suffered damage in an attempt to remove it and was subsequently acid washed in an effort to help blend with the patina, the mainspring is an old-style mainspring (these were made without a hammer roller channel), the grips are correct and numbered in the backstrap channel, a small chip found missing at the right toe, the ejector rod head is an old nicely-executed homemade replacement, the barrel address is 100% correct and in nice condition, the cylinder pin remains partially extended and is frozen in place, and the muzzle has been somewhat flattened. Finish remains a natural dark-brown patina throughout. As stated in the John A. Kopec letter, his opinion is that this gun could have been issued to the Fourth Cavalry in Texas. CONDITION: Good, with virtually all of the original finishes turned to a homogenous chocolate brown patina throughout. Grips are good with inspector cartouches worn off, wood is slightly shy to backstrap and butt with chips at right and left sides of the toe. Action is tight. Bore is dark with visible rifling. Holster is very good, with stitching tight, leather pliable, and liner beginning to become loose from wear. Overall, an attractive Ainsworth inspected Colt Cavalry with Kopec letter and aftermarket holster.