EXTRAORDINARY AND UNIQUE PROTOTYPE COLT MODEL 1871-1872 OPEN TOP SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.

SN 4. Cal. 44 (appears to be 44 Russian as a 44 Colt will not chamber and a 44 Russian will). Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address with dashes. Breech end of the bbl has an integral, fixed, V-notch sight. Right side if the bbl lug is mounted with an ejector housing that has half-moon bullseye ejector rod head. Bbl was made for this revolver and is not a conversion. It has conventional right hand twist rifling, not gain twist of the Model 1860. Frame is completely unmarked and was a specially made item for this revolver, not a conversion from another model. Hammer very closely resembles the ensuing Single Action Army style with integral conical firing pin and short checkered spur. Firing pin slot in the frame is also conical to accept this firing pin and could not have been converted from anything else. Cyl is new made with usual 6-chambers and extended integral bushing out the front. Grip frame is of un-plated brass and contains a 1-pc, Navy size, oil finished walnut grip and has No. “4” scratched in the backstrap channel and also stamped on the front edges where it meets the frame. The No. “4” is also found on the loading gate, inside the hammer, front face of cyl, rear face of bbl lug and scratched on right side of backstrap at the heel. Inside the front strap has 4 horizontal lines, which presumably is also the assembly number. No further disassembly was effected to check for additional matching numbers. This revolver is pictured on pg. 278 & 294 of A Study of Colt Conversions and Other Percussion Revolvers, McDowell, with credit to Francis E. “Bud” Firth. A nearly identical revolver is pictured as plate D on pg. 235 of The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson. The caption to that revolver identifies it also as cal. 44 center fire, with silver plated brass grip frame and a varnished Navy size grip. The caption further states “Believed to have been submitted to the U.S. Government for acceptance by the Ordnance Department”. Consignor has presented evidence of another nearly identical revolver with ivory grip sold recently. He states that there are 3 other examples known, all with English proofs, silver plated grip frames and varnished walnut grips. It is believed that this is the only example, of the total of 5 or 6 known, that is without English proofs. It is also believed that the revolvers sent to England were to test the market for the center fire cartridge. The rimfire ammunition available in England at that time was problematical and they apparently thought a center fire revolver could be successful. Apparently that did not prove to be so and this model was never produced in center fire. This is one of the most rare and high condition prototype Colts extant. Accompanied by NRA silver medal No. 292 and certificate awarded to Mr. C.D. Terry on April 30, 1989 at the St. Louis, MO annual NRA meeting. PROVENANCE: C.D. Terry Collection; Frances E. “Bud” Firth Collection; Fred Sweeney Collection; The William Gerber Family Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching as noted above. Bbl retains 70-75% glossy orig blue with loss areas flaked, not worn, to a dark patina and with a couple small rubs; ejector housing is flaked to a dark patina on the outer radius; frame and hammer retain 99%+ orig case colors, brilliant on sides of the frame and hammer slightly faded on left recoil shield and top edge of hammer; cyl retains about 50-60% orig blue with the balance flaked to a dark patina; grip frame was never silver plated and is now a medium, mellow mustard patina; grip is sound with a couple minor nicks and retains most of its orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, appears to be new and unfired. (WG-007) 4-51098 JR514 (90,000-150,000) – Lot 2038

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

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
	2038	$0.00	EXTRAORDINARY AND UNIQUE PROTOTYPE COLT MODEL 1871-1872 OPEN TOP SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. SN 4. Cal. 44 (appears to be 44 Russian as a 44 Colt will not chamber and a 44 Russian will). Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New-York U.S. America address with dashes. Breech end of the bbl has an integral, fixed, V-notch sight. Right side if the bbl lug is mounted with an ejector housing that has half-moon bullseye ejector rod head. Bbl was made for this revolver and is not a conversion. It has conventional right hand twist rifling, not gain twist of the Model 1860. Frame is completely unmarked and was a specially made item for this revolver, not a conversion from another model. Hammer very closely resembles the ensuing Single Action Army style with integral conical firing pin and short checkered spur. Firing pin slot in the frame is also conical to accept this firing pin and could not have been converted from anything else. Cyl is new made with usual 6-chambers and extended integral bushing out the front. Grip frame is of un-plated brass and contains a 1-pc, Navy size, oil finished walnut grip and has No. “4” scratched in the backstrap channel and also stamped on the front edges where it meets the frame. The No. “4” is also found on the loading gate, inside the hammer, front face of cyl, rear face of bbl lug and scratched on right side of backstrap at the heel. Inside the front strap has 4 horizontal lines, which presumably is also the assembly number. No further disassembly was effected to check for additional matching numbers. This revolver is pictured on pg. 278 & 294 of A Study of Colt Conversions and Other Percussion Revolvers, McDowell, with credit to Francis E. “Bud” Firth. A nearly identical revolver is pictured as plate D on pg. 235 of The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson. The caption to that revolver identifies it also as cal. 44 center fire, with silver plated brass grip frame and a varnished Navy size grip. The caption further states “Believed to have been submitted to the U.S. Government for acceptance by the Ordnance Department”. Consignor has presented evidence of another nearly identical revolver with ivory grip sold recently. He states that there are 3 other examples known, all with English proofs, silver plated grip frames and varnished walnut grips. It is believed that this is the only example, of the total of 5 or 6 known, that is without English proofs. It is also believed that the revolvers sent to England were to test the market for the center fire cartridge. The rimfire ammunition available in England at that time was problematical and they apparently thought a center fire revolver could be successful. Apparently that did not prove to be so and this model was never produced in center fire. This is one of the most rare and high condition prototype Colts extant. Accompanied by NRA silver medal No. 292 and certificate awarded to Mr. C.D. Terry on April 30, 1989 at the St. Louis, MO annual NRA meeting. PROVENANCE: C.D. Terry Collection; Frances E. “Bud” Firth Collection; Fred Sweeney Collection; The William Gerber Family Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching as noted above. Bbl retains 70-75% glossy orig blue with loss areas flaked, not worn, to a dark patina and with a couple small rubs; ejector housing is flaked to a dark patina on the outer radius; frame and hammer retain 99%+ orig case colors, brilliant on sides of the frame and hammer slightly faded on left recoil shield and top edge of hammer; cyl retains about 50-60% orig blue with the balance flaked to a dark patina; grip frame was never silver plated and is now a medium, mellow mustard patina; grip is sound with a couple minor nicks and retains most of its orig oil finish. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, appears to be new and unfired. (WG-007) 4-51098 JR514 (90,000-150,000) – Lot 2038 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 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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EXTRAORDINARY AND UNIQUE PROTOTYPE COLT MODEL 1871-1872 OPEN TOP SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.