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Houston Light Guard Inscribed Black Powder Colt Single Action Army Revolver with History

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Hand Guns - Revolvers Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Houston Light Guard Inscribed Black Powder Colt Single Action Army Revolver with History
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Houston Light Guard Inscribed Black Powder Colt Single Action Army Revolver with History

Manufactured in 1883. The back strap is inscribed "Col Jonas S Rice/Houston Light Guard/1885" Jonas Rice (1855-1931) was a banker, businessman and civic leader in Houston, Texas. In 1874 he joined the Houston Light Guard which was one of the oldest national guard companies in the State of Texas and became the first uniformed militia company in Post-Reconstruction Houston. Between 1876 and 1903 the Houston Light Guard mobilized three times to restore or maintain peace during race crises in Southwest Texas. Race did participate in the race crises and was the commander of the Houston Light Guards from 1876-1876. He is mentioned several times in the included University of Houston thesis "The Houston Light Guards: A Case Study of the Texas Militia, 1873-1903" by Bruce Allan Olson (now a tenured professor of history at Del Mar College) and is remembered as a captain with "good judgment, farsightedness, restraint and maturity" in handling a racial crisis in 1876. The top of the barrel is marked with the one line address and the left side of the frame is marked with the three line, three patent dates, (both very faint). The serial number is visible on the trigger guard and the partial number "430" is visible on the back strap. Blade front and frame notch rear sights, nickel finish with gold washed screw heads and trigger, and fitted with replacement hard rubber Rampant Colt/Federal eagle checkered grips. The revolver is accompanied by two Colt letters, one dated June 19, 1958 and the other May 15, 2008. Both verify the caliber, nickel finish, rubber grips, barrel length as "Not Listed" (both state that 7 1/2 was standard during that time period) and that it was shipped as 1 of 3 to Schoverling, Daly and Gales in New York on February 24, 1883. The revolver also comes with a history of the Houston Light Guard and a contemporary wooden box with a "Col. Jonas S. Rice/Houston Light Guard/1885" inscribed plaque on the lid and history of Jonas Rice attached to the inside of the lid.

Manufucture: Colt
Model: Single Action
BBL: 7 1/2 inch round
Stock:
Guage: 45 LC
Finish: nickel
Grips: hard rubber
Serial Number: 88430

Replated with 99% nickel finish remaining, showing a few minor handling marks and a faint drag line on the cylinder. Almost all of the gold wash remains on the screw heads and trigger. The grips are excellent with a couple of minor dings and crisp checkering. The front sight has been altered. The cylinder pin is loose and there is some play in the cylinder. The action functions well. The wooden box is excellent with a few light scuffs and some minor dents. The inscribed plaque is contemporary and the bottom was lined with green felt.