FINE MARTIALLY MARKED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

FINE MARTIALLY MARKED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. . SN 116858. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Bottom of bbl has last four digits of SN under ejector rod housing and has the inspector initials “DFC” (David F. Clark). Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and a small “U.S”. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip with last four digits of SN in back strap channel. The “DFC” inspector initials are also found on the frame & cyl and faintly on the left bottom edge of the grip. There is also a small “G” inspector initial below serial numbers on trigger guard & butt strap. According to John Kopec, noted author & historian, this “G” indicates government contract and is found only on a limited series. Left side of grip has a faint but legible “FH” (Capt. Frank Heath) cartouche and the right side a faint but legible “DFC” cartouche. Accompanied by a 2-page John Kopec letter wherein he authenticates this revolver and speculates that it may have been issued to the legendary 10th U.S. Cavalry. It is noted in the book Colt Cavalry & Artillery Revolvers…A Continuing Study, Kopec & Fenn, on p. 79 that cavalry revolver SN 116856 was issued to the New York Militia. In his letter Mr. Kopec also speculates that the subject revolver may have been issued to the North Carolina militia in 1886. That this revolver escaped the recalls & alterations to artillery model is self-evident and can be explained only if it in fact had been either stolen, lost or issued to a state militia. There is also the possibility that it could have been stolen from a 10th Cavalry trooper. The 10th Cavalry was formed in the early years immediately following the Civil War and consisted of freed slaves who were known as “Buffalo Soldiers”. The unit was raised in Kansas and shortly thereafter assigned to the southwest, spending most of the Indian War years fighting the Comanche & Apache in West Texas, New Mexico & Arizona. Over the years they earned a fine reputation for bravery & fighting. The unit later participated in the Spanish American war in Cuba & The Philippines. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching including bbl, cyl & grip. Bbl retains 85-88% orig blue, strong & bright in sheltered areas, slightly thinned elsewhere with good “feathers” around front sight and either side of the ejector rod housing stud. Frame retains nearly all of its orig case colors, strong & bright in the front gullets and other sheltered areas, moderately faded elsewhere, turned silver on the left recoil shield & loading gate. Hammer retains strong colors on sides and rear edge, turned dark on top edge. Trigger guard retains strong blue on trigger plate & sides of trigger bow, cleaned to gray metal on front strap with some fine pitting just behind the trigger bow. Back strap & butt strap are a plum/gray patina with blue in the most sheltered areas. Ejector rod housing retains strong blue in the gullets with gray metal patina on the outer radius. Cylinder retains plummy blue in the flutes being a blue/gray patina on outer diameter. Grip is sound with chipped toes and worn edges and retains about 50% varnish on left side and 20% on right side with both cartouches legible. Hammer is not solid in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a very few tiny scattered spots of fine pitting. 4-42000 JR175 (15,000-20,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	2171	$5,750.00	FINE MARTIALLY MARKED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. . SN 116858. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Bottom of bbl has last four digits of SN under ejector rod housing and has the inspector initials “DFC” (David F. Clark). Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and a small “U.S”. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip with last four digits of SN in back strap channel. The “DFC” inspector initials are also found on the frame & cyl and faintly on the left bottom edge of the grip. There is also a small “G” inspector initial below serial numbers on trigger guard & butt strap. According to John Kopec, noted author & historian, this “G” indicates government contract and is found only on a limited series. Left side of grip has a faint but legible “FH” (Capt. Frank Heath) cartouche and the right side a faint but legible “DFC” cartouche. Accompanied by a 2-page John Kopec letter wherein he authenticates this revolver and speculates that it may have been issued to the legendary 10th U.S. Cavalry. It is noted in the book Colt Cavalry & Artillery Revolvers…A Continuing Study, Kopec & Fenn, on p. 79 that cavalry revolver SN 116856 was issued to the New York Militia. In his letter Mr. Kopec also speculates that the subject revolver may have been issued to the North Carolina militia in 1886. That this revolver escaped the recalls & alterations to artillery model is self-evident and can be explained only if it in fact had been either stolen, lost or issued to a state militia. There is also the possibility that it could have been stolen from a 10th Cavalry trooper. The 10th Cavalry was formed in the early years immediately following the Civil War and consisted of freed slaves who were known as “Buffalo Soldiers”. The unit was raised in Kansas and shortly thereafter assigned to the southwest, spending most of the Indian War years fighting the Comanche & Apache in West Texas, New Mexico & Arizona. Over the years they earned a fine reputation for bravery & fighting. The unit later participated in the Spanish American war in Cuba & The Philippines. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching including bbl, cyl & grip. Bbl retains 85-88% orig blue, strong & bright in sheltered areas, slightly thinned elsewhere with good “feathers” around front sight and either side of the ejector rod housing stud. Frame retains nearly all of its orig case colors, strong & bright in the front gullets and other sheltered areas, moderately faded elsewhere, turned silver on the left recoil shield & loading gate. Hammer retains strong colors on sides and rear edge, turned dark on top edge. Trigger guard retains strong blue on trigger plate & sides of trigger bow, cleaned to gray metal on front strap with some fine pitting just behind the trigger bow. Back strap & butt strap are a plum/gray patina with blue in the most sheltered areas. Ejector rod housing retains strong blue in the gullets with gray metal patina on the outer radius. Cylinder retains plummy blue in the flutes being a blue/gray patina on outer diameter. Grip is sound with chipped toes and worn edges and retains about 50% varnish on left side and 20% on right side with both cartouches legible. Hammer is not solid in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a very few tiny scattered spots of fine pitting. 4-42000 JR175 (15,000-20,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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