RARE COLT RIMFIRE SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

SN 235. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script letter address. Bottom of bbl is marked with a tiny “44” and has matching SN under the ejector housing. Ejector housing is 1st type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Left shoulder of trigger guard has the caliber marking. Hammer is orig with rimfire firing pin secured with 2 rivets. Mounted with varnished 1-pc walnut grip that appears to have the faint matching number in the backstrap channel. Cylinder is also matching numbered and base pin is orig type with dimpled ends. Accompanied by a Colt Factory letter which identifies this revolver in cal. 44 rimfire, bbl length and type of stocks not listed, blue finish and shipped to Spies, Kissman & Co. NY, NY on Feb. 8, 1876 in a 12 gun shipment. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Cochran, there were 1,863 single action revolvers produced in 44 RF caliber (including 107 caliber 22 revolvers) in the period 1875-1880 in a separate SN range beginning with #1. In about 1888 Colt converted the remaining 44 RF revolvers in stock to cal. 22. Colt had produced these revolvers to accommodate the owners of Henry and Winchester Model 1866 rifles, which utilized the same cartridge. Unfortunately the introduction of the Single Action in 44 RF nearly coincided with the advent of the repeating center fire rifles. Being an obsolete cartridge at the introduction, hampered sales which resulted in cancellation of this model. The vast majority of Single Action chambered in 44 RF were sold to Mexico and South America where the Henry and Winchester 1866 rifles were still in widespread use. In that environment, these revolvers usually saw very hard service with little or no maintenance and most often are found with cut bbls. So, finding one in orig configuration is quite rare. PROVENANCE: Tommy Rholes Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very good. Orig finish remains only in the most sheltered areas being mostly a cleaned metal patina. Hammer retains strong case colors on the sides and rear edge. Grip is sound and showing moderate wear and retains about 85% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with shine in the groves and light pitting. 4-50681 JR92 (25,000-40,000) – Lot 1186

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
	1186	$20,700.00	RARE COLT RIMFIRE SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 235. Cal. 44 RF Henry. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script letter address. Bottom of bbl is marked with a tiny “44” and has matching SN under the ejector housing. Ejector housing is 1st type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Left shoulder of trigger guard has the caliber marking. Hammer is orig with rimfire firing pin secured with 2 rivets. Mounted with varnished 1-pc walnut grip that appears to have the faint matching number in the backstrap channel. Cylinder is also matching numbered and base pin is orig type with dimpled ends. Accompanied by a Colt Factory letter which identifies this revolver in cal. 44 rimfire, bbl length and type of stocks not listed, blue finish and shipped to Spies, Kissman & Co. NY, NY on Feb. 8, 1876 in a 12 gun shipment. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Cochran, there were 1,863 single action revolvers produced in 44 RF caliber (including 107 caliber 22 revolvers) in the period 1875-1880 in a separate SN range beginning with #1. In about 1888 Colt converted the remaining 44 RF revolvers in stock to cal. 22. Colt had produced these revolvers to accommodate the owners of Henry and Winchester Model 1866 rifles, which utilized the same cartridge. Unfortunately the introduction of the Single Action in 44 RF nearly coincided with the advent of the repeating center fire rifles. Being an obsolete cartridge at the introduction, hampered sales which resulted in cancellation of this model. The vast majority of Single Action chambered in 44 RF were sold to Mexico and South America where the Henry and Winchester 1866 rifles were still in widespread use. In that environment, these revolvers usually saw very hard service with little or no maintenance and most often are found with cut bbls. So, finding one in orig configuration is quite rare. PROVENANCE: Tommy Rholes Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very good. Orig finish remains only in the most sheltered areas being mostly a cleaned metal patina. Hammer retains strong case colors on the sides and rear edge. Grip is sound and showing moderate wear and retains about 85% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with shine in the groves and light pitting. 4-50681 JR92 (25,000-40,000) – Lot 1186 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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RARE COLT RIMFIRE SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.