1343

COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.
SN 114002. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2" bbl, slightly altered front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and "U.S.". Mounted with an orig 1-pc walnut grip that has the 4 numbers of a SN which appear to be "6441" in the backstrap channel. Left side of grip has the "FH" (Capt. Frank Heath) inspector cartouche under the date 1884 and the right side has the outline of the "DFC" (David F. Clark) sub-inspector cartouche. Left bottom edge of grip, bottom of frame, bbl and cyl also have the "DFC" inspector initials. Trigger guard and buttstrap are stamped with the mystery "G" inspector initial, believed to be a Colt inspector. Ejector housing is 2nd type with bullseye ejector rod head and the buttstrap has a Lanyard swivel. This revolver was from the 9th contract signed August 11, 1884 and was completed on Jan 31, 1885. This revolver was produced in 1884 at the height of the Indian Wars in the American West. It is unusual to find such a revolver with strong orig finish and in orig configuration. It is also noteworthy that it does remain in its orig configuration, escaping the recalls and conversions of the 1890's and early 1900's were hundreds of cavalry revolvers had their bbls reduced to 5-1/2", artillery configuration. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this revolver in caliber 45, bbl length & type of stocks not listed, blue finish and delivered to the U.S. Government inspector at the Colt plant Jan. 7, 1885 in a 200-gun shipment. CONDITION: About fine, all matching except grip, as noted. Bbl retains about 80% strong orig blue, showing wear on left side and right side of muzzle; front sight has been slightly filed; both sides of front sight and both sides of the ejector housing stud show strong feathers; frame retains bright case colors on the sides, fading towards the front, with bright colors in the front gullets fading towards the top; left recoil shield and loading gate are mostly faded to silver, as is the top strap; hammer retains bright case colors, showing wear on the left side, faded to silver on top edge; trigger guard retains traces of orig blue having flaked, not worn, to a blue gray patina; backstrap retains strong case colors on the top with center and backstrap a blue gray patina; cyl retains 75-80% orig blue, lightly flaked and thinning on outer diameter with strong blue in flutes; base pin is a replacement without dimpled ends; ejector housing retains strong blue in gullets with the outer radius a blue gray patina; grip is sound, showing moderate wear and a hand worn patina; hammer is not solid in safety or half cock notches, otherwise mechanics are fine; bright shiny bore with scattered very light pitting; screws are fine and retain strong orig fire blue. 4-47541 JR167