VERY RARE COLT FIRST VARIATION MODEL 1860 RICHARDS SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER WITH 12-STOP CYLINDER.

SN 1612. Cal. 44 COLT. Blue and color case hardened with 8″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and New-York U.S. America address. Right side of bbl lug has an attached ejector housing with checkered 1/2 moon ejector rod head. Left side of frame has a small “COLTS PATENT” and left shoulder trigger guard is marked “44 CAL”. The silver plated brass trigger guard and blued steel backstrap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN in backstrap channels. Cyl is usual 6-chambers with the unusual feature of 12 stop notches in the rebated area. This was an experiment which would have allowed the cyl to be locked by the lock bolt half way between chambers for safety. Unfortunately, the notches over the chamber area occasionally wore through creating a dangerous situation. Conversion ring has an integral rear sight with loading gate that has internal spring and detent. Conversion ring, loading gate and cyl spindle have assembly number “310”. This revolver is one of the early versions assembled from previously unused percussion parts and thus was a manufactured revolver, not a conversion. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, there were about 9,000 of this model revolver produced during the period 1873-1878, of which only a few were fitted with 12-stop cylinders. Undoubtedly, many of those were later converted to conventional cylinders with 6 stops. This was Colts first offering of the bored-through cyl in large caliber and was immediately adopted by the buying public for use on the American Frontier. They generally saw very hard service and are rarely found today with high orig finish. Accompanied by a very rare, full, sealed box, of U.S. Cartridge Co. 44 Cal. central fire cartridges marked on the label “COLT’S NEW BREECH-LOADING / ARMY REVOLVER” and has a line drawing of a Richards conversion revolver. Label is yellow with black lettering and has a kraft colored paper band. Each end of the box is marked “Calibre: / .44 / Colt’s Army Pistol”. PROVENANCE: Francis E. “Bud” Firth Collection; The William Gerber Family Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching except wedge, which is properly unnumbered. Bbl retains about 70% glossy orig blue with the loss areas toward the breech end, over the top, from flaking, not wear; ejector housing retains about 95% glossy orig blue; frame, conversion ring, loading gate and hammer retain about 98% brilliant orig case colors, a little dark on the hammer; cyl retains about 90% orig blue, strong and glossy in the rebated area, a little thin on the major diameter and shows about 99% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking; trigger guard retains about 35% silver with the balance a medium mustard patina; backstrap retains about 90% glossy orig blue, thinning toward the heel; grip has some chips in the edges and nicks & scratches with a few bruises and overall retains 93-95% glossy orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore with a few scattered small spots of pitting. Box of cartridges is sound and still sealed; label has a few minor losses on the right end with light soil and wear and is lightly faded; band is lightly foxed with light soil. (WG-008) 4-51092 JR512 (30,000-40,000) – Lot 2027

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
	2027	$25,300.00	VERY RARE COLT FIRST VARIATION MODEL 1860 RICHARDS SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER WITH 12-STOP CYLINDER. SN 1612. Cal. 44 COLT. Blue and color case hardened with 8″ rnd bbl, German silver front sight and New-York U.S. America address. Right side of bbl lug has an attached ejector housing with checkered 1/2 moon ejector rod head. Left side of frame has a small “COLTS PATENT” and left shoulder trigger guard is marked “44 CAL”. The silver plated brass trigger guard and blued steel backstrap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN in backstrap channels. Cyl is usual 6-chambers with the unusual feature of 12 stop notches in the rebated area. This was an experiment which would have allowed the cyl to be locked by the lock bolt half way between chambers for safety. Unfortunately, the notches over the chamber area occasionally wore through creating a dangerous situation. Conversion ring has an integral rear sight with loading gate that has internal spring and detent. Conversion ring, loading gate and cyl spindle have assembly number “310”. This revolver is one of the early versions assembled from previously unused percussion parts and thus was a manufactured revolver, not a conversion. According to The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, there were about 9,000 of this model revolver produced during the period 1873-1878, of which only a few were fitted with 12-stop cylinders. Undoubtedly, many of those were later converted to conventional cylinders with 6 stops. This was Colts first offering of the bored-through cyl in large caliber and was immediately adopted by the buying public for use on the American Frontier. They generally saw very hard service and are rarely found today with high orig finish. Accompanied by a very rare, full, sealed box, of U.S. Cartridge Co. 44 Cal. central fire cartridges marked on the label “COLT’S NEW BREECH-LOADING / ARMY REVOLVER” and has a line drawing of a Richards conversion revolver. Label is yellow with black lettering and has a kraft colored paper band. Each end of the box is marked “Calibre: / .44 / Colt’s Army Pistol”. PROVENANCE: Francis E. “Bud” Firth Collection; The William Gerber Family Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching except wedge, which is properly unnumbered. Bbl retains about 70% glossy orig blue with the loss areas toward the breech end, over the top, from flaking, not wear; ejector housing retains about 95% glossy orig blue; frame, conversion ring, loading gate and hammer retain about 98% brilliant orig case colors, a little dark on the hammer; cyl retains about 90% orig blue, strong and glossy in the rebated area, a little thin on the major diameter and shows about 99% Ormsby Naval battle scene roll marking; trigger guard retains about 35% silver with the balance a medium mustard patina; backstrap retains about 90% glossy orig blue, thinning toward the heel; grip has some chips in the edges and nicks & scratches with a few bruises and overall retains 93-95% glossy orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, very bright shiny bore with a few scattered small spots of pitting. Box of cartridges is sound and still sealed; label has a few minor losses on the right end with light soil and wear and is lightly faded; band is lightly foxed with light soil. (WG-008) 4-51092 JR512 (30,000-40,000) – Lot 2027 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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VERY RARE COLT FIRST VARIATION MODEL 1860 RICHARDS SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER WITH 12-STOP CYLINDER.