EXCEPTIONAL HENRY NETTLETON INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

EXCEPTIONAL HENRY NETTLETON INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 48298. 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. Ejector rod housing is second type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and a small “US” without periods. Mounted with orig 1-pc walnut grip with last four digits of SN in back strap channel with date “1878” over the crisp oval cartouche “JEG” for Military Inspector Capt. John E. Greer. Right side has the crisp oval cartouche “HN” for Sub-Inspector Henry Nettleton. This revolver is part of the later contracts of 1878, probably from the one which was signed Aug. 27, 1878. The “HN” sub-inspector initials of Henry Nettleton were observed on the frame & trigger guard adjacent to SNs on bottom of bbl, top of back strap, outer diameter of cylinder & bottom right edge of grip. Left side of the hammer also has Mr. Nettleton’s initials. It is interesting to note that this revolver is only two SNs away from an identified “Keyes” revolver. Capt. A.S.B. Keyes was a captain in Troop D of the 10th Cavalry stationed at Fort Davis, Texas, apparently in charge of the Armory when 47 revolvers were discovered missing. Attempting to cover up his laxity in control, Capt. Keyes privately purchased 47 replacement revolvers and installed them in the Armory prior to an audit. His efforts failed as the subterfuge was discovered and he was issued a written reprimand condemning him for his actions. Nettleton inspected Colts were produced in 1878 and as such were available and issued to troops on the frontier engaged in the Indian Wars for many years thereafter and few survive today in orig configuration and orig finish. A majority of the Nettleton contracts were returned in 1893 and in later recalls and altered to artillery configuration with 5-1/2″ bbls and usually with mismatched parts. That this exceptional revolver survived in such pristine condition attests to the conjecture that it was either stolen or lost during the period of use and thereby escaped alteration. This fabulous revolver is truly an exception and may be the finest Henry Nettleton inspected, completely orig Cavalry Single Action for sale today. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to own one of the finest Indian Wars issued Cavalry Model Single Action Army revolvers. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching including bbl, cyl & grip. Bbl retains 96-97% strong orig factory blue with very strong feathers on each side of the front sight and ejector rod housing stud. Ejector rod housing retains 96-97% strong orig factory blue with bright blue on the screw. Frame retains virtually all of its brilliant factory case colors, slightly faded on the recoil shield & loading gate. Hammer retains faded case colors. Trigger guard & back strap retain most of their orig factory blue with candy striping on most of those surfaces with fine feathers on the flats of trigger plate on each side of the front web of the trigger guard. Cyl retains 94-95% strong orig blue, slightly thinned on outer diameter, glossy & bright in the flutes. Grip has a chipped right toe, otherwise is completely sound showing light wear with a few nicks & dings on left side with crisp date & cartouches and retains most of its orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, may have been fired but if so very little. 4-40144 JR118 (85,000-135,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010

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
	2163	$92,000.00	EXCEPTIONAL HENRY NETTLETON INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 48298. 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. Ejector rod housing is second type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and a small “US” without periods. Mounted with orig 1-pc walnut grip with last four digits of SN in back strap channel with date “1878” over the crisp oval cartouche “JEG” for Military Inspector Capt. John E. Greer. Right side has the crisp oval cartouche “HN” for Sub-Inspector Henry Nettleton. This revolver is part of the later contracts of 1878, probably from the one which was signed Aug. 27, 1878. The “HN” sub-inspector initials of Henry Nettleton were observed on the frame & trigger guard adjacent to SNs on bottom of bbl, top of back strap, outer diameter of cylinder & bottom right edge of grip. Left side of the hammer also has Mr. Nettleton’s initials. It is interesting to note that this revolver is only two SNs away from an identified “Keyes” revolver. Capt. A.S.B. Keyes was a captain in Troop D of the 10th Cavalry stationed at Fort Davis, Texas, apparently in charge of the Armory when 47 revolvers were discovered missing. Attempting to cover up his laxity in control, Capt. Keyes privately purchased 47 replacement revolvers and installed them in the Armory prior to an audit. His efforts failed as the subterfuge was discovered and he was issued a written reprimand condemning him for his actions. Nettleton inspected Colts were produced in 1878 and as such were available and issued to troops on the frontier engaged in the Indian Wars for many years thereafter and few survive today in orig configuration and orig finish. A majority of the Nettleton contracts were returned in 1893 and in later recalls and altered to artillery configuration with 5-1/2″ bbls and usually with mismatched parts. That this exceptional revolver survived in such pristine condition attests to the conjecture that it was either stolen or lost during the period of use and thereby escaped alteration. This fabulous revolver is truly an exception and may be the finest Henry Nettleton inspected, completely orig Cavalry Single Action for sale today. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to own one of the finest Indian Wars issued Cavalry Model Single Action Army revolvers. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching including bbl, cyl & grip. Bbl retains 96-97% strong orig factory blue with very strong feathers on each side of the front sight and ejector rod housing stud. Ejector rod housing retains 96-97% strong orig factory blue with bright blue on the screw. Frame retains virtually all of its brilliant factory case colors, slightly faded on the recoil shield & loading gate. Hammer retains faded case colors. Trigger guard & back strap retain most of their orig factory blue with candy striping on most of those surfaces with fine feathers on the flats of trigger plate on each side of the front web of the trigger guard. Cyl retains 94-95% strong orig blue, slightly thinned on outer diameter, glossy & bright in the flutes. Grip has a chipped right toe, otherwise is completely sound showing light wear with a few nicks & dings on left side with crisp date & cartouches and retains most of its orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, may have been fired but if so very little. 4-40144 JR118 (85,000-135,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010 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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