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COLT CAVALRY NETTLETON INSPECTED SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:22,500.00 USD Estimated At:45,000.00 - 65,000.00 USD
COLT CAVALRY NETTLETON INSPECTED SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.
SN 49231. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2" bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and "US". Ejector housing is second type with bull's eye ejector rod head and base pin is orig type with dimpled ends. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip whose number in the back strap channel is obscured. Left side of the grip has a sharp "JEG" (Capt. John E. Greer) cartouche under the date "1878" and the right side has the sharp "HN" (Henry Nettleton) sub-inspector cartouche. The "HN" inspector initials are found on various parts including bottom right edge of the grip, top of back strap, frame, hammer, trigger guard, cyl and bottom of the bbl. This revolver was part of the third contract in the later Nettleton era. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver, as found, delivered to the U.S. Government Inspector at the Colt plant July 30, 1878 in a 100-gun shipment. Given that this revolver was produced in an era that was at the height of the Indian Wars, there can be little doubt that this revolver would have been issued to a front line cavalry unit and would have seen service on the western frontier. Few of those revolvers are found today with high orig finish such as this one. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching, grip as noted. Bbl retains about 75-80% glossy orig blue with strong feathers each side of front sight and ejector housing stud; wear is primarily on left side from holster; ejector housing retains about 80% glossy orig blue with holster wear on outer radius; frame retains strong, bright case colors in front gullets and around recoil shields, faded on sides & top strap; hammer retains strong bright case colors; trigger guard retains 85-90% orig blue with candy striping. Back strap & butt strap retain about 90% orig blue, strong & bright at the top and on butt strap; candy striped on back strap with some light flaking; cyl retains about 75% orig blue, strong & bright in the flutes with two areas of fading, probably from long term holster storage. Grip is sound with some light marks on bottom edges showing moderate wear on the edges and retains a light hand worn patina. Hammer is not solid in half cock notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with scattered spots of pitting. 4-48163 JR282