FINE AINSWORTH INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, POSSIBLY THE FINEST EXTANT.

FINE AINSWORTH INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, POSSIBLY THE FINEST EXTANT. SN 12473. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script address with serifs. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and a small “U.S.”. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has the last four digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Left side of grip has a crisp “OWA” (Orville W. Ainsworth) cartouche. Bottom of bbl, cyl, trigger guard, top of backstrap and bottom left edge of grip have tiny “A” inspector initials. Ejector rod housing is 1st type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Base pin is orig type with dimpled front end; rear end is slightly flattened. This revolver was produced probably in mid to late 1874 during the height of the Indian wars where the majority of martially marked single actions were shipped to various cavalry units serving from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and all the way to Montana. Revolvers from this series of single actions are seldom found with any orig finish, let alone high orig finish such as we have in this revolver. Accompanied by a letter from renowned Colt historian, author & collector, John Kopec, wherein he verifies the absolute & complete originality of this revolver stating that the markings & finish are “found to be totally correct for these early Ainsworth revolvers” and it is “in its factory original condition”. He notes in his letter that a large number of the revolvers from this serial range were issued to the Virginia State Militia who in turn immediately sold them to a dealer in New York named Herman Boker who had the majority of them nickel plated and resold on the civilian market with a few being sold unaltered. Regardless, this is one of the finest Ainsworth inspected Colt Cavalry revolvers extant. PROVENANCE: Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching including bbl, cyl & grip, probably unfired; bbl retains about 98% strong orig blue with only faint muzzle edge wear and a couple of other minor nicks and retains about all of its orig “feathers” on each side of front sight; ejector housing retains 96-97% strong orig blue with light front edge wear; frame & hammer retain virtually all of their strong orig case colors, brighter in sheltered areas and on the right side; top edge of hammer has turned dark; trigger guard & front strap retain most of the orig factory blue with slight thinning near the toe; backstrap retains most of its strong orig blue with some light candy striping and minor thinning; cyl retains 96-97% strong orig blue with sharp edge wear and some thinning on outer diameter; grip is crisp with sharp edges and only a couple of very minor surface nicks and retains about all of its orig oil finish; chambers of cyl & bore retain virtually all of their orig factory blue. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore with no evidence of every having been fired. 4-44677 JR201 (125,000-175,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

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
	2160	$201,250.00	FINE AINSWORTH INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, POSSIBLY THE FINEST EXTANT. SN 12473. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script address with serifs. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and a small “U.S.”. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has the last four digits of matching SN in backstrap channel. Left side of grip has a crisp “OWA” (Orville W. Ainsworth) cartouche. Bottom of bbl, cyl, trigger guard, top of backstrap and bottom left edge of grip have tiny “A” inspector initials. Ejector rod housing is 1st type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Base pin is orig type with dimpled front end; rear end is slightly flattened. This revolver was produced probably in mid to late 1874 during the height of the Indian wars where the majority of martially marked single actions were shipped to various cavalry units serving from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and all the way to Montana. Revolvers from this series of single actions are seldom found with any orig finish, let alone high orig finish such as we have in this revolver. Accompanied by a letter from renowned Colt historian, author & collector, John Kopec, wherein he verifies the absolute & complete originality of this revolver stating that the markings & finish are “found to be totally correct for these early Ainsworth revolvers” and it is “in its factory original condition”. He notes in his letter that a large number of the revolvers from this serial range were issued to the Virginia State Militia who in turn immediately sold them to a dealer in New York named Herman Boker who had the majority of them nickel plated and resold on the civilian market with a few being sold unaltered. Regardless, this is one of the finest Ainsworth inspected Colt Cavalry revolvers extant. PROVENANCE: Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching including bbl, cyl & grip, probably unfired; bbl retains about 98% strong orig blue with only faint muzzle edge wear and a couple of other minor nicks and retains about all of its orig “feathers” on each side of front sight; ejector housing retains 96-97% strong orig blue with light front edge wear; frame & hammer retain virtually all of their strong orig case colors, brighter in sheltered areas and on the right side; top edge of hammer has turned dark; trigger guard & front strap retain most of the orig factory blue with slight thinning near the toe; backstrap retains most of its strong orig blue with some light candy striping and minor thinning; cyl retains 96-97% strong orig blue with sharp edge wear and some thinning on outer diameter; grip is crisp with sharp edges and only a couple of very minor surface nicks and retains about all of its orig oil finish; chambers of cyl & bore retain virtually all of their orig factory blue. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore with no evidence of every having been fired. 4-44677 JR201 (125,000-175,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 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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