RARE AINSWORTH INSPECTED CUSTER RANGE COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

SN 5939. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue color case hardened with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script letter address. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and a small “U.S.” Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has matching SN in backstrap channel. Matching numbers are also found on bottom of bbl, under the ejector housing and on cylinder. Ejector housing is 1st type with bullseye ejector rod head. The tiny inspector initial “A” (Orville W. Ainsworth) is found on bottom of bbl, cylinder, trigger guard, backstrap and bottom left edge of grip. Grip cartouche is worn away. This revolver is from lot 6 of Cavalry issued Colts and is within the known and identified range of Custer’s 7th Cavalry issued revolvers. It is also within the range of 2nd Cavalry issued revolvers, either of which places it in the thick of Indian fighting in the 1870s & 1880s. While the 7th Cavalry received all the notoriety resulting from the Custer massacre and although the 7th Cavalry was a famous fighting unit at that time, participating in numerous smaller battles and skirmishes, in actuality the 2nd Cavalry was probably more active in the Western theater and probably participated in more fights than did the 7th. In fact the 2nd Cavalry was part of General Crook’s column for which Custer was supposed to wait. Just a few days before the Custer fight at the Little Big Horn the 2nd Cavalry with Crook fought the Battle of the Rosebud, leading the fight to the Indians and pursuing them when they abandoned the field. The 2nd and 7th Cavalries remained on duty in the Western theater well into the 1880s. Undoubtedly this revolver saw much fighting. Accompanied by a series of letters from John Kopec, noted historian, author and collector where he verifies the authenticity of this revolver and states that it could have been issued to either of the units mentioned above. He cites an example of SN 5933 which was found in Canada in the area where many of the escaping Indians traveled to after the Little Big Horn. Undoubtedly #5933 was a 7th Cavalry Colt which leads to the conclusion that this revolver, #5939 was also a 7th Cavalry revolver. PROVENANCE: Tommy Rholes Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine, all matching including bbl, cylinder and grip. All parts of this revolver appear to be absolutely orig except the hammer spring which is a more modern replacement. Bbl retains 30-40% orig blue, mostly in sheltered areas with the top and sides gray metal patina. Orig feathers are still visible on either side of front sight. Frame retains faded case colors in the front gullets and traces in most sheltered areas being generally a gray metal patina. There is some fine pitting on the right side by the forcing cone. Trigger guard, front strap and backstrap are gray metal patina. Hammer retains strong case colors on sides and rear edge. Cylinder is a gray metal patina. Grip has a chipped left toe, otherwise is sound with some light battering on the bottom edges and retains a hand worn patina. Hammer is not solid in half-cock notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, very bright shiny bore. 4-50671 JR102 (25,000-50,000) – Lot 1181

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1181	$43,125.00	RARE AINSWORTH INSPECTED CUSTER RANGE COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 5939. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue color case hardened with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script letter address. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and a small “U.S.” Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has matching SN in backstrap channel. Matching numbers are also found on bottom of bbl, under the ejector housing and on cylinder. Ejector housing is 1st type with bullseye ejector rod head. The tiny inspector initial “A” (Orville W. Ainsworth) is found on bottom of bbl, cylinder, trigger guard, backstrap and bottom left edge of grip. Grip cartouche is worn away. This revolver is from lot 6 of Cavalry issued Colts and is within the known and identified range of Custer’s 7th Cavalry issued revolvers. It is also within the range of 2nd Cavalry issued revolvers, either of which places it in the thick of Indian fighting in the 1870s & 1880s. While the 7th Cavalry received all the notoriety resulting from the Custer massacre and although the 7th Cavalry was a famous fighting unit at that time, participating in numerous smaller battles and skirmishes, in actuality the 2nd Cavalry was probably more active in the Western theater and probably participated in more fights than did the 7th. In fact the 2nd Cavalry was part of General Crook’s column for which Custer was supposed to wait. Just a few days before the Custer fight at the Little Big Horn the 2nd Cavalry with Crook fought the Battle of the Rosebud, leading the fight to the Indians and pursuing them when they abandoned the field. The 2nd and 7th Cavalries remained on duty in the Western theater well into the 1880s. Undoubtedly this revolver saw much fighting. Accompanied by a series of letters from John Kopec, noted historian, author and collector where he verifies the authenticity of this revolver and states that it could have been issued to either of the units mentioned above. He cites an example of SN 5933 which was found in Canada in the area where many of the escaping Indians traveled to after the Little Big Horn. Undoubtedly #5933 was a 7th Cavalry Colt which leads to the conclusion that this revolver, #5939 was also a 7th Cavalry revolver. PROVENANCE: Tommy Rholes Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine, all matching including bbl, cylinder and grip. All parts of this revolver appear to be absolutely orig except the hammer spring which is a more modern replacement. Bbl retains 30-40% orig blue, mostly in sheltered areas with the top and sides gray metal patina. Orig feathers are still visible on either side of front sight. Frame retains faded case colors in the front gullets and traces in most sheltered areas being generally a gray metal patina. There is some fine pitting on the right side by the forcing cone. Trigger guard, front strap and backstrap are gray metal patina. Hammer retains strong case colors on sides and rear edge. Cylinder is a gray metal patina. Grip has a chipped left toe, otherwise is sound with some light battering on the bottom edges and retains a hand worn patina. Hammer is not solid in half-cock notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, very bright shiny bore. 4-50671 JR102 (25,000-50,000) – Lot 1181 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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RARE AINSWORTH INSPECTED CUSTER RANGE COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.