EXCEPTIONALLY RARE CUSTER RANGE AINSWORTH INSPECTED COLT SGL ACTION ARMY CAVALRY REVOLVER.

EXCEPTIONALLY RARE CUSTER RANGE AINSWORTH INSPECTED COLT SGL ACTION ARMY CAVALRY REVOLVER. Cal. 45 Colt. SN 4823. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, small letter slanted bbl address with serifs at each end. It has first type ejector rod housing & a bull’s eye ejector rod head along with the early style cylinder pins with a dimple at each end. Bbl has tiny “A” and “P” proofs on the bottom and the serial number is upside down just above the ejector rod housing at the frame. Left side of the frame has a small “U.S.” and the various parts all have small “A” sub-inspector initials (A.O. Ainsworth). It has 1-pc walnut grip with a legible “OWA” cartouche on the left side and a tiny “A” on the bottom of the left side of the butt. Accompanied by a John Kopec letter wherein he states that although this revolver could not be located in the records it is in the proximity of two others, serial #4865 that in June 1874 belonged to the 2nd Cavalry and #4878 was turned in by the Indian “Fools-Bear” Sept. 1876. #4840 belonged to the 1st Cavalry in 1877. This revolver originated from Lot 5 which was a “prime” lot from which the 7th Cavalry drew their revolvers & were issued to Gen. Custer’s command in July 1874 prior to the Black Hills Expedition. So therefore it is certainly possibly that this is a 7th Cavalry revolver. Mr. Kopec states that this revolver is unaltered and “truly an exceptional Custer period Ainsworth Cavalry revolver, worthy of the finest Indian Wars or Colt ollection. CONDITION: Very fine. Perhaps one of the best Custer-range Colts known today. Bbl retains traces of blue in the very sheltered areas, stronger around the front sight and bright & strong under the ejector rod housing. Frame retains 30-40% thin & faded case colors with the balance turned silver. Hammer retains about 50% strong case colors with the outer edges turned dark. Grip frame is a medium gray patina. All the screws are very fine, except the cylinder pin screw, which has been redressed and blued. Amongst the other screws there are one or two very minor slipped edges. Grips are extremely fine with a completely legible cartouche, a chip at the left heel and a tiny chip at the right toe, otherwise show light to moderate wear on the edges with minor nicks & scratches and retain most of its orig factory varnish. Hammer will not hold in the safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with scattered light pitting. A very exciting and fine early, probably historical, revolver that with some more research may confirm 7th Cav. use. 4-57211 JR572 (35,000-45,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005

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
	4206	$63,250.00	EXCEPTIONALLY RARE CUSTER RANGE AINSWORTH INSPECTED COLT SGL ACTION ARMY CAVALRY REVOLVER. Cal. 45 Colt. SN 4823. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, small letter slanted bbl address with serifs at each end. It has first type ejector rod housing & a bull’s eye ejector rod head along with the early style cylinder pins with a dimple at each end. Bbl has tiny “A” and “P” proofs on the bottom and the serial number is upside down just above the ejector rod housing at the frame. Left side of the frame has a small “U.S.” and the various parts all have small “A” sub-inspector initials (A.O. Ainsworth). It has 1-pc walnut grip with a legible “OWA” cartouche on the left side and a tiny “A” on the bottom of the left side of the butt. Accompanied by a John Kopec letter wherein he states that although this revolver could not be located in the records it is in the proximity of two others, serial #4865 that in June 1874 belonged to the 2nd Cavalry and #4878 was turned in by the Indian “Fools-Bear” Sept. 1876. #4840 belonged to the 1st Cavalry in 1877. This revolver originated from Lot 5 which was a “prime” lot from which the 7th Cavalry drew their revolvers & were issued to Gen. Custer’s command in July 1874 prior to the Black Hills Expedition. So therefore it is certainly possibly that this is a 7th Cavalry revolver. Mr. Kopec states that this revolver is unaltered and “truly an exceptional Custer period Ainsworth Cavalry revolver, worthy of the finest Indian Wars or Colt ollection. CONDITION: Very fine. Perhaps one of the best Custer-range Colts known today. Bbl retains traces of blue in the very sheltered areas, stronger around the front sight and bright & strong under the ejector rod housing. Frame retains 30-40% thin & faded case colors with the balance turned silver. Hammer retains about 50% strong case colors with the outer edges turned dark. Grip frame is a medium gray patina. All the screws are very fine, except the cylinder pin screw, which has been redressed and blued. Amongst the other screws there are one or two very minor slipped edges. Grips are extremely fine with a completely legible cartouche, a chip at the left heel and a tiny chip at the right toe, otherwise show light to moderate wear on the edges with minor nicks & scratches and retain most of its orig factory varnish. Hammer will not hold in the safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine. Strong bright bore with scattered light pitting. A very exciting and fine early, probably historical, revolver that with some more research may confirm 7th Cav. use. 4-57211 JR572 (35,000-45,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}