1347

SCARCE BUY-BACK COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
SCARCE BUY-BACK COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.
SN 12370. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 7-1/2" bbl, full front sight and 1-line script address with broken "O" in "Co" and a broken "A" in "Hartford". Ejector rod housing is 1st type with bulleye ejector rod head. Left side of frame has small 2-line patent dates and a small "U.S." Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has a partially visible 4 digit SN in backstrap channel, which appears to be "2370". Left side of grip has a faint but mostly legible "OWA" (Orville W. Ainsworth) cartouche. Mr. Ainsworth's tiny "A" inspector initial also appears at the top of backstrap, on the trigger guard, bottom of bbl and cyl. Base pin appears to be orig with dimpled ends and nickel finish. This revolver, identified by SN, is listed on pg 161 of Colt Cavalry and Artillery Revolvers...A Continuing Study, Kopec & Fenn, under the general heading of "The Buy-Back Revolvers" and "Ainsworth Nickel-Plated Revolvers". It appears that this revolver was probably one of the 769 Colt Single Action Cavalry revolvers issued to the State of Virginia Militia, who in turn sold them, in new, unused condition, on the open market. That lot of these revolvers are heavily representative in the serial range 11700 through 14300, many of which are known to be nickel plated. These nickel finished revolvers are frequently found with pearl or ivory grips, more rarely with their orig issue walnut grip. Accompanied by a 2-page letter from noted Colt historian, author & collector, John Kopec, wherein he details most of the above information and expands on the Virginia issued Cavalry Colts stating that they were sold to arms dealer, Herman Boker, who then nickel plated them. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching, including cyl and grip. Bbl retains 96-98% strong nickel with a scratch that wraps about half way around the bbl behind the front sight and with light muzzle edge wear, along with some minor flaking around the address; frame retains 97-98% strong nickel, turned slightly milky, with a couple of small scratches, a light ding on recoil shield and shows light edge wear; hammer retains most of its nickel with some light edge wear; trigger guard retains most of its nickel finish with one small wear spot near the SN; backstrap has about a 1" worn spot in center, otherwise retains the balance of its nickel; cyl retains about 82-83% nickel, turned a little milky, with some minor flaking, sharp edge wear and a drag line; ejector housing retains about 98% nickel; grip has slightly chipped toes, shows heavy wear with a gouge in right edge and retains a dark hand worn patina; mechanics are crisp; strong bright bore with moderate pitting. 4-47547 JR169