VERY RARE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY RICHARDS CONVERSION REVOLVER WITH TWELVE CYLINDER STOP NOTCHES.

VERY RARE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY RICHARDS CONVERSION REVOLVER WITH TWELVE CYLINDER STOP NOTCHES. SN 1632. Cal. 44 Colt CF. Rare variation, blue & color case hardened with 8″ rnd bbl, full German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Frame is marked “COLTS PATENT” and the caliber is marked on left shoulder of trigger guard. Cylinder is altered from a standard percussion cyl by having the rear face machined away to expose chambers and having six additional cyl stop notches machined into the rebated circumference ostensibly to act as safety notches to prevent accidental discharges. The major diameter of the cyl has the Ormsby Naval Battle Scene roll marking. The Richards conversion is of the early type with integral rear sight and internal spring & detent plunger for the loading gate. Loading gate, conversion ring & cyl arbor are numbered “320”. Bbl lug is fitted with ejector rod & housing which fits into the old percussion rammer slot, secured by a screw. Bbl & ejector housing are matching numbered “286”. Silver plated brass trigger guard & blued steel back strap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with the SN in back strap channel. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, 1860 Army Conversions with 12-cyl stop notches are “a rare variation”. According to consignor Model 1860 Conversions with 12-cyl stop notches were the first of the Richards conversions on this model but very quickly were shown to be impractical because the extra notches, which would cut over chamber areas, created a very thin chamber wall and frequently wore through or blew out in use. The 12-cyl stop notch variation was soon replaced by the 6-cyl stop notch variation which was used throughout the remainder of production. According to consignor This revolver was authenticated by a Mr. Dow Heard, III who had conducted a 30-year study of the Richards Conversion revolvers. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching including ejector housing, cyl, grip & conversion. Bbl & ejector housing retain 60-70% flaked glossy Colt blue with the flaked areas a dark patina. Cyl retains strong glossy blue in rebated area with the larger diameter a blue/brown patina and also retains about 90% Ormsby Naval Battle Scene. Chambers retain most of their orig Colt blue as does the bore. Frame & conversion ring retain traces of dark case colors in most sheltered areas being mostly a smooth brown patina. Hammer retains strong case colors on rear edge with smoky case colors on sides. Trigger guard retains traces of orig silver and back strap strong blue at top and on butt strap with body of back strap a dark brown patina. Grip is sound showing moderate edge wear and scattered light scratches, mostly on left side and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-42160 JR18 (12,500-17,500)

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
	2096	$0.00	VERY RARE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY RICHARDS CONVERSION REVOLVER WITH TWELVE CYLINDER STOP NOTCHES. SN 1632. Cal. 44 Colt CF. Rare variation, blue & color case hardened with 8″ rnd bbl, full German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Frame is marked “COLTS PATENT” and the caliber is marked on left shoulder of trigger guard. Cylinder is altered from a standard percussion cyl by having the rear face machined away to expose chambers and having six additional cyl stop notches machined into the rebated circumference ostensibly to act as safety notches to prevent accidental discharges. The major diameter of the cyl has the Ormsby Naval Battle Scene roll marking. The Richards conversion is of the early type with integral rear sight and internal spring & detent plunger for the loading gate. Loading gate, conversion ring & cyl arbor are numbered “320”. Bbl lug is fitted with ejector rod & housing which fits into the old percussion rammer slot, secured by a screw. Bbl & ejector housing are matching numbered “286”. Silver plated brass trigger guard & blued steel back strap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with the SN in back strap channel. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, 1860 Army Conversions with 12-cyl stop notches are “a rare variation”. According to consignor Model 1860 Conversions with 12-cyl stop notches were the first of the Richards conversions on this model but very quickly were shown to be impractical because the extra notches, which would cut over chamber areas, created a very thin chamber wall and frequently wore through or blew out in use. The 12-cyl stop notch variation was soon replaced by the 6-cyl stop notch variation which was used throughout the remainder of production. According to consignor This revolver was authenticated by a Mr. Dow Heard, III who had conducted a 30-year study of the Richards Conversion revolvers. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching including ejector housing, cyl, grip & conversion. Bbl & ejector housing retain 60-70% flaked glossy Colt blue with the flaked areas a dark patina. Cyl retains strong glossy blue in rebated area with the larger diameter a blue/brown patina and also retains about 90% Ormsby Naval Battle Scene. Chambers retain most of their orig Colt blue as does the bore. Frame & conversion ring retain traces of dark case colors in most sheltered areas being mostly a smooth brown patina. Hammer retains strong case colors on rear edge with smoky case colors on sides. Trigger guard retains traces of orig silver and back strap strong blue at top and on butt strap with body of back strap a dark brown patina. Grip is sound showing moderate edge wear and scattered light scratches, mostly on left side and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-42160 JR18 (12,500-17,500) 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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