EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY MARTIALLY MARKED RICHARDS CONVERSION REVOLVER.

EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY MARTIALLY MARKED RICHARDS CONVERSION REVOLVER. SN 79313/435A. Cal. 44 Colt CF. Blue & color case hardened with 7-7/8″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of bbl lug just forward of wedge screw is stamped with a small “US”. Bbl lug is fitted with an ejector rod housing that has a checkered head. Left side of frame is marked “COLTS PATENT”. The unplated brass trigger guard & blued steel back strap contain an unmarked & unnumbered 1-pc walnut grip. Cylinder, which appears to be a new Colt part from the orig conversion is modified in the usual manner by having had the rear face machined away to expose the full chambers. The Richards conversion ring is attached to the frame with integral rear sight and loading gate with scarce internal ball & detent plunger mechanism for the loading gate. Loading gate & conversion ring are numbered “178”. The ejector housing plug, bbl lug, wedge & cyl are all numbered “435” while the bottom of bbl lug, frame, trigger guard, butt strap & cyl arbor have mixed orig 5-digit SNs, all accompanied by the number “435” with the suffix “A”. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson there were 1,200 of these Models 1860 Army revolvers altered at the Springfield Armory and were the first self-contained cartridge revolvers issued to U.S. troops. Virtually all of these early conversions saw hard service on the American frontier during the Indian Wars and later in Mexico and are rarely ever found completely orig with high orig condition. These are truly some of the more rare collectible Colt cartridge revolvers. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Overall retains most of its orig arsenal finish with the bbl slightly reduced in length, probably at the time of conversion. Bbl & cyl retain most of their orig dark blue with some thinning on left side of bbl and sharp edges. Cylinder retains virtually all of its Ormsby Naval Battle Scene and the chambers retain most of their orig blue as does the bore. Frame & hammer retain most of their strong arsenal case colors with the conversion ring slightly faded. Trigger guard is a light mustard patina and back strap & butt strap retain strong arsenal blue, thinned in center of back strap. Grip has chipped toes, otherwise is sound showing heavy wear and a dark oil stain. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-42288 JR17 (27,500-37,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

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
	2095	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY MARTIALLY MARKED RICHARDS CONVERSION REVOLVER. SN 79313/435A. Cal. 44 Colt CF. Blue & color case hardened with 7-7/8″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Left side of bbl lug just forward of wedge screw is stamped with a small “US”. Bbl lug is fitted with an ejector rod housing that has a checkered head. Left side of frame is marked “COLTS PATENT”. The unplated brass trigger guard & blued steel back strap contain an unmarked & unnumbered 1-pc walnut grip. Cylinder, which appears to be a new Colt part from the orig conversion is modified in the usual manner by having had the rear face machined away to expose the full chambers. The Richards conversion ring is attached to the frame with integral rear sight and loading gate with scarce internal ball & detent plunger mechanism for the loading gate. Loading gate & conversion ring are numbered “178”. The ejector housing plug, bbl lug, wedge & cyl are all numbered “435” while the bottom of bbl lug, frame, trigger guard, butt strap & cyl arbor have mixed orig 5-digit SNs, all accompanied by the number “435” with the suffix “A”. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson there were 1,200 of these Models 1860 Army revolvers altered at the Springfield Armory and were the first self-contained cartridge revolvers issued to U.S. troops. Virtually all of these early conversions saw hard service on the American frontier during the Indian Wars and later in Mexico and are rarely ever found completely orig with high orig condition. These are truly some of the more rare collectible Colt cartridge revolvers. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Overall retains most of its orig arsenal finish with the bbl slightly reduced in length, probably at the time of conversion. Bbl & cyl retain most of their orig dark blue with some thinning on left side of bbl and sharp edges. Cylinder retains virtually all of its Ormsby Naval Battle Scene and the chambers retain most of their orig blue as does the bore. Frame & hammer retain most of their strong arsenal case colors with the conversion ring slightly faded. Trigger guard is a light mustard patina and back strap & butt strap retain strong arsenal blue, thinned in center of back strap. Grip has chipped toes, otherwise is sound showing heavy wear and a dark oil stain. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. 4-42288 JR17 (27,500-37,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 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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