2010

RARE COLT OPEN TOP SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:7,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
RARE COLT OPEN TOP SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.
PLEASE NOTE (10/2/13): Caliber is 44 RF Henry not 41 RF Henry. SN 3215. Cal 41 RF Henry. Blue finish with 7 1/2" rd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Rear sight is integral with top rear of bbl. Right side of the bbl lug has an attached ejector with bull's eye ejector rod head. Cylinder is unfluted and straight sighted with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking and rectangular stop notches without approaches. Left side of the frame has the 2-line 1871 and 1872 patent dates. The blued steel trigger guard and backstrap contain a smooth 1-pc walnut grip. Firing pin is attached to the hammer nose on the left side and secured with 2 rivets. Loading gate is in the right recoil shield with exposed spring. These revolvers were Colt's first truly successful attempt at a large bore cartridge revolver which were readily accepted by the American buying public and were immediately placed into service on the American Frontier. There were only about 7,000 of them produced in the 1871-1872 period and were supplanted by Colt's Single Action Army revolver. A very large number of these revolvers found their way to Mexico and other South and Central American countries where they remained in service many years along side the Henry and Winchester Model 1866 rifles and carbines. Large numbers of these revolvers had their bbls reduced during their period of service outside of the US and nearly always are found in a poor state of repair. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except wedge and grip which are properly unnumbered. Traces of orig finish remain on the bbl lug and frame with stronger amounts of blue on the trigger guard and backstrap. The cylinder and balance of the metal is a smooth, even plum brown patina. Grip has slightly chipped toes and shows heavy wear with a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine. Strong bore with heavy pitting. 4-48910 JR45