RARE HENRY NETTLETON INSPECTED, “U.S.I.D.” MARKED NICKEL PLATED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

RARE HENRY NETTLETON INSPECTED, “U.S.I.D.” MARKED NICKEL PLATED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 49391. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and “US”. Left front web of trigger guard has the civilian caliber marking. Ejector housing is second type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has last four digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Left side of grip has the outline of an oval cartouche as does the right side, neither of which are legible. Buttstrap is stamped in block letters “U.S.I.D.”, which stands for U.S. Interior Department which was the governmental department in charge of Indian affairs, including the Indian Police. All visible SNs are matching and the bbl & cyl have the last four digits of matching SN. Frame, trigger guard, backstrap, bbl & cyl are all stamped “H.N.” (Henry Nettleton), sub-inspector. Page 250 of A Study of The Colt Single Action Army Revolver, Graham, Kopec & Moore, disclosed that as of that writing there has only ever been one Single Action revolver reported with this buttstrap stamping. Over the years various theories & speculations have surfaced regarding Indian Scout/Indian Police issued nickel plated sidearms. Some of these theories are based on photographs of Indian Scouts and Police holding what appear to be nickel plated Single Actions. It is known that Gen. Custer, in order to distinguish individual units’ arms, had them specifically marked and that he is believed to have issued his Scouts nickel plated Single Action revolvers. It is further known that individual Army officers could purchase nickel plated revolvers through the National Armory as there are several recorded letters & invoices for such revolvers. It should be noted that the screws & trigger are fire-blued and the hammer is color case hardened which is typical of those revolvers nickel plated by the Colt factory whereas those revolvers known to have been plated at the National Armory or by a private firm had nickeled screws & hammers. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver in caliber 45, bbl length, finish & type of stocks not listed, sold to & delivered to U.S. Government on Aug. 12, 1878 in a shipment of 150 guns. CONDITION: Very fine plus. Overall retains most of a strong, bright nickel with some extremely fine freckling on the frame; cyl retains most of its nickel with some very fine flaking in two or three of the flutes; trigger guard & backstrap retain dull nickel mixed with polished metal; hammer retains strong case colors on right side with traces elsewhere, faded to silver on top. Grip is sound showing heavy edge wear and a dark & worn patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-48759 JR337 (10,000-15,000)

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
	2027	$11,500.00	RARE HENRY NETTLETON INSPECTED, “U.S.I.D.” MARKED NICKEL PLATED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 49391. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and “US”. Left front web of trigger guard has the civilian caliber marking. Ejector housing is second type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has last four digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Left side of grip has the outline of an oval cartouche as does the right side, neither of which are legible. Buttstrap is stamped in block letters “U.S.I.D.”, which stands for U.S. Interior Department which was the governmental department in charge of Indian affairs, including the Indian Police. All visible SNs are matching and the bbl & cyl have the last four digits of matching SN. Frame, trigger guard, backstrap, bbl & cyl are all stamped “H.N.” (Henry Nettleton), sub-inspector. Page 250 of A Study of The Colt Single Action Army Revolver, Graham, Kopec & Moore, disclosed that as of that writing there has only ever been one Single Action revolver reported with this buttstrap stamping. Over the years various theories & speculations have surfaced regarding Indian Scout/Indian Police issued nickel plated sidearms. Some of these theories are based on photographs of Indian Scouts and Police holding what appear to be nickel plated Single Actions. It is known that Gen. Custer, in order to distinguish individual units’ arms, had them specifically marked and that he is believed to have issued his Scouts nickel plated Single Action revolvers. It is further known that individual Army officers could purchase nickel plated revolvers through the National Armory as there are several recorded letters & invoices for such revolvers. It should be noted that the screws & trigger are fire-blued and the hammer is color case hardened which is typical of those revolvers nickel plated by the Colt factory whereas those revolvers known to have been plated at the National Armory or by a private firm had nickeled screws & hammers. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver in caliber 45, bbl length, finish & type of stocks not listed, sold to & delivered to U.S. Government on Aug. 12, 1878 in a shipment of 150 guns. CONDITION: Very fine plus. Overall retains most of a strong, bright nickel with some extremely fine freckling on the frame; cyl retains most of its nickel with some very fine flaking in two or three of the flutes; trigger guard & backstrap retain dull nickel mixed with polished metal; hammer retains strong case colors on right side with traces elsewhere, faded to silver on top. Grip is sound showing heavy edge wear and a dark & worn patina. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-48759 JR337 (10,000-15,000) 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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