FINE SCARCE FIRST TYPE COLT OPEN TOP SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.

FINE SCARCE FIRST TYPE COLT OPEN TOP SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. SN 839. Cal. 44 RF. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight, 1-line New-York U.S. America block letter address with Richards-Mason type rear sight at chamber end of bbl. Right side of bbl lug is mounted with an ejector rod housing containing a half moon ejector rod head with bullseye concentric rings. Left side of frame is stamped with a small “COLTS PATENT” and the silver plated brass trigger guard & blued iron back strap contain a 1-pc walnut grip. Cyl is unfluted and not rebated with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. The open top revolver was Colt’s first truly successful manufactured large bore cartridge revolver with about 7,000 produced in the period 1872-73. This is the early style of this model having the brass trigger guard. These revolvers are rarely ever found with high orig finish as the majority of them were shipped to South & Central America, Mexico & other foreign countries because by the time these revolvers were available on the market, solid frame, center-fire cartridge revolvers were already popular in the United States and therefore the buying public did not readily embrace this revolver which utilized the rimfire cartridge. The Colt company, being the enterprising body they were, immediately made strong efforts to sell them into areas where the 44 RF cartridge was still in wide use in the Henry & Winchester 1866 rifles. Most of these open top revolvers encountered today have shortened bbls & no orig finish. They saw hard service wherever they were with limited or no maintenance. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including loading gate, except wedge & grip which are properly unnumbered. Bbl retains 50-60% orig blue, glossy & strong in sheltered areas, turning to a blue/gray patina over the top. Ejector rod housing is mostly a blue/gray patina. Frame retains most of its orig case colors, strong on right side and in sheltered areas on left side, faded on recoil shield & loading gate. Hammer retains strong case colors on left side & rear edge, faded to a medium patina on right side & top edge. Cyl is a smooth, even bluebrown patina and retains about 95% sharp Ormsby naval battle scene. Screws are extremely fine and retain most of their orig thin blue. Trigger guard retains silver in sheltered places being mostly a light mustard patina. Back strap retains blue in sheltered areas being mostly a plummy blue patina. Grip is sound with slightly chipped toes showing moderate edge wear with light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with scattered moderate to heavy pitting. 4-42009 JR220 (12,500-17,500)

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
	2226	$19,550.00	FINE SCARCE FIRST TYPE COLT OPEN TOP SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. SN 839. Cal. 44 RF. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight, 1-line New-York U.S. America block letter address with Richards-Mason type rear sight at chamber end of bbl. Right side of bbl lug is mounted with an ejector rod housing containing a half moon ejector rod head with bullseye concentric rings. Left side of frame is stamped with a small “COLTS PATENT” and the silver plated brass trigger guard & blued iron back strap contain a 1-pc walnut grip. Cyl is unfluted and not rebated with Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking. The open top revolver was Colt’s first truly successful manufactured large bore cartridge revolver with about 7,000 produced in the period 1872-73. This is the early style of this model having the brass trigger guard. These revolvers are rarely ever found with high orig finish as the majority of them were shipped to South & Central America, Mexico & other foreign countries because by the time these revolvers were available on the market, solid frame, center-fire cartridge revolvers were already popular in the United States and therefore the buying public did not readily embrace this revolver which utilized the rimfire cartridge. The Colt company, being the enterprising body they were, immediately made strong efforts to sell them into areas where the 44 RF cartridge was still in wide use in the Henry & Winchester 1866 rifles. Most of these open top revolvers encountered today have shortened bbls & no orig finish. They saw hard service wherever they were with limited or no maintenance. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including loading gate, except wedge & grip which are properly unnumbered. Bbl retains 50-60% orig blue, glossy & strong in sheltered areas, turning to a blue/gray patina over the top. Ejector rod housing is mostly a blue/gray patina. Frame retains most of its orig case colors, strong on right side and in sheltered areas on left side, faded on recoil shield & loading gate. Hammer retains strong case colors on left side & rear edge, faded to a medium patina on right side & top edge. Cyl is a smooth, even bluebrown patina and retains about 95% sharp Ormsby naval battle scene. Screws are extremely fine and retain most of their orig thin blue. Trigger guard retains silver in sheltered places being mostly a light mustard patina. Back strap retains blue in sheltered areas being mostly a plummy blue patina. Grip is sound with slightly chipped toes showing moderate edge wear with light nicks & scratches and retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with scattered moderate to heavy pitting. 4-42009 JR220 (12,500-17,500) 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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