RARE CUSTER RANGE INDIAN SCOUT OR OFFICER’S SPECIAL COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

RARE CUSTER RANGE INDIAN SCOUT OR OFFICER’S SPECIAL COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 6226. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, slightly altered front sight and 1-line script letter address with serifs. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and a small “U.S.”. Mounted with orig 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN in back strap channel. Left side of grip has the partial outline of a cartouche which would have been “OWA” (Orville W. Ainsworth) and there are small “A” inspector initials on various parts. Ejector housing is first type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. While it is well known that the Ordnance Dept. did not order Colt revolvers nickel finished, it is equally well known that Springfield Arsenal did custom order nickel finish for certain Cavalry officers. It is also known that in order to discourage theft among his troops Lt. Col. Custer, during the Civil War, ordered companies to distinctively mark their firearms. Later, when he had been assigned to the 7th Cavalry at Fort Abraham Lincoln, he ordered his Indian scouts’ revolvers to be nickel plated. This work was probably done by the Adams Plating Company. In the instance of this revolver the hammer & trigger are nickel finish which indicates that they were not plated at the factory because the Colt factory finished triggers blue with blued screws and color case hardened hammers while the after-market plating did not follow those guidelines. This revolver is from Lot 6 which accounts for a large number of known 7th Cavalry revolvers and all the above lends strong probability that this may have been one of the revolvers issued to Custer’s 7th Cavalry Indian scouts. Accompanied by a 2-page letter from renowned Colt historian & author, John Kopec, wherein he details much of the above information. Regardless of the possible 7th Cavalry/Little Big Horn connection, this revolver almost positively was issued to one of the fighting cavalry regiments in the west engaged in the Indian Wars. CONDITION: Very good, all matching including bbl, cyl & grip. Bbl retains about 50% dull orig nickel mixed with medium to dark patina and shows heavy wear on the left edge of the muzzle; frame retains 60-70% strong orig nickel mixed with dark patina; trigger guard retains nickel on the bow with the balance a medium to dark patina; back strap retains about 60% orig nickel mixed with dark patina; cyl is a gray/brown patina showing moderate to heavy wear; ejector housing retains 30-40% nickel finish. Grip has chipped toes and shows heavy wear with a fine hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with sharp rifling & scattered pitting. 4-48620 JR63 (9,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013

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
	2014	$17,250.00	RARE CUSTER RANGE INDIAN SCOUT OR OFFICER’S SPECIAL COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 6226. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, slightly altered front sight and 1-line script letter address with serifs. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and a small “U.S.”. Mounted with orig 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN in back strap channel. Left side of grip has the partial outline of a cartouche which would have been “OWA” (Orville W. Ainsworth) and there are small “A” inspector initials on various parts. Ejector housing is first type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. While it is well known that the Ordnance Dept. did not order Colt revolvers nickel finished, it is equally well known that Springfield Arsenal did custom order nickel finish for certain Cavalry officers. It is also known that in order to discourage theft among his troops Lt. Col. Custer, during the Civil War, ordered companies to distinctively mark their firearms. Later, when he had been assigned to the 7th Cavalry at Fort Abraham Lincoln, he ordered his Indian scouts’ revolvers to be nickel plated. This work was probably done by the Adams Plating Company. In the instance of this revolver the hammer & trigger are nickel finish which indicates that they were not plated at the factory because the Colt factory finished triggers blue with blued screws and color case hardened hammers while the after-market plating did not follow those guidelines. This revolver is from Lot 6 which accounts for a large number of known 7th Cavalry revolvers and all the above lends strong probability that this may have been one of the revolvers issued to Custer’s 7th Cavalry Indian scouts. Accompanied by a 2-page letter from renowned Colt historian & author, John Kopec, wherein he details much of the above information. Regardless of the possible 7th Cavalry/Little Big Horn connection, this revolver almost positively was issued to one of the fighting cavalry regiments in the west engaged in the Indian Wars. CONDITION: Very good, all matching including bbl, cyl & grip. Bbl retains about 50% dull orig nickel mixed with medium to dark patina and shows heavy wear on the left edge of the muzzle; frame retains 60-70% strong orig nickel mixed with dark patina; trigger guard retains nickel on the bow with the balance a medium to dark patina; back strap retains about 60% orig nickel mixed with dark patina; cyl is a gray/brown patina showing moderate to heavy wear; ejector housing retains 30-40% nickel finish. Grip has chipped toes and shows heavy wear with a fine hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with sharp rifling & scattered pitting. 4-48620 JR63 (9,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2013 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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