EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER.

EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER. Cal. 44. SN 93921. Probably the only one known, this revolver is arguably the most rare of all the Model 1860 Army revolvers. It has a 10″ rnd bbl with standard German silver front sight blade and a period of use installed V-notch rear sight at the chamber end of the bbl. The cylinder is equally rare in that it is unfluted and non-rebated with the Ormsby naval battle scene. It has a 3-screw frame cut for shoulder stock with flat head hammer screw. It has deluxe, highly figured 1-piece walnut grips with a 7/8″ x 7/8″ silver shield on the left side. The shield is engraved “To / Geo. A. Jackson / From Dick Irwin / 1870”. The rammer lever is checkered about 1-5/8″ near the tip. The bbl lug is without a serial number and does not appear to have ever had one. It is dimensionally correct and an accompanying x-ray discloses no apparent alteration. The cylinder does not have a serial number and does not appear to have ever had one. Neither does it appear to have ever had safety pins.

Accompanied by the x-ray, as previously mentioned, and a copy of the book Texas Collector: / Gaines de Graffenried, Conger. This book was printed in 1987 and on page 39 begins an article regarding this specific revolver. The author relates that Mr. Graffenried and another collector named Clyde O’Neal became aware of a small collection belonging to an elderly lawyer named Rice, in Hamilton, Texas. They drove over, looked at the collection, but were unable to purchase anything at that time. The old lawyer reportedly related that back in the 1890’s his uncle was the sheriff of neighboring Bosque County, in Meridian, Texas. He related that one day a well dressed stranger drove a stylish rubber-tired buggy, being pulled by a handsome span of bays, into the town. After he dropped off his team at the local livery stable he stopped by a saloon and became “uproariously intoxicated”. The sheriff, the judge’s uncle, arrested him and relieved him of this long bbled Colt. Around noon the next day the stranger was released but failed to reclaim his revolver. The sheriff in his later years gave this revolver to his nephew, the judge.

About twenty years later, Mr. Graffenried learned the judge had passed away and contacted his widow who gifted this revolver to him and later allowed him to purchase the judge’s library. Page 40 of the book contains an overall picture and a close-up of the grip of this revolver. Pages 161 & 163 of The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, mentions that there were shorter and longer than standard bbls made by Colt and that “at least one specimen is known having a 10″ bbl and a roll-engraved, non-rebated cylinder”. He states that “any bbl lengths other than 7-1/2″ and 8″ are so rare as to be categorized as special order or experimental”. CONDITION: About fine, the bbl, cylinder, frame and back strap retain an even dark plum brown patina with some small hammer marks by the wedge opening on the right side of the bbl. The trigger guard retains 40-50% original silver plating with several small nicks and scratches on the front strap. The frame, cylinder pin, trigger guard and back strap are all matching numbered. The wedge is numbered to another revolver and, as previously noted, the cylinder and bbl are unnumbered. The grips have a couple of chips on the right bottom edge with some light hammer marks on the butt and show heavy wear with a fine hand oil patina. Mechanics need timing and are a little loose but function. The bore is bright and shiny with a few spots of scattered light pitting. An extremely rare and very desirable percussion Colt. 4-53467 JR787 (22,500-32,500)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2004

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
	1327	$24,150.00	EXTREMELY RARE COLT MODEL 1860 ARMY REVOLVER. Cal. 44. SN 93921. Probably the only one known, this revolver is arguably the most rare of all the Model 1860 Army revolvers. It has a 10″ rnd bbl with standard German silver front sight blade and a period of use installed V-notch rear sight at the chamber end of the bbl. The cylinder is equally rare in that it is unfluted and non-rebated with the Ormsby naval battle scene. It has a 3-screw frame cut for shoulder stock with flat head hammer screw. It has deluxe, highly figured 1-piece walnut grips with a 7/8″ x 7/8″ silver shield on the left side. The shield is engraved “To / Geo. A. Jackson / From Dick Irwin / 1870”. The rammer lever is checkered about 1-5/8″ near the tip. The bbl lug is without a serial number and does not appear to have ever had one. It is dimensionally correct and an accompanying x-ray discloses no apparent alteration. The cylinder does not have a serial number and does not appear to have ever had one. Neither does it appear to have ever had safety pins. Accompanied by the x-ray, as previously mentioned, and a copy of the book Texas Collector: / Gaines de Graffenried, Conger. This book was printed in 1987 and on page 39 begins an article regarding this specific revolver. The author relates that Mr. Graffenried and another collector named Clyde O’Neal became aware of a small collection belonging to an elderly lawyer named Rice, in Hamilton, Texas. They drove over, looked at the collection, but were unable to purchase anything at that time. The old lawyer reportedly related that back in the 1890’s his uncle was the sheriff of neighboring Bosque County, in Meridian, Texas. He related that one day a well dressed stranger drove a stylish rubber-tired buggy, being pulled by a handsome span of bays, into the town. After he dropped off his team at the local livery stable he stopped by a saloon and became “uproariously intoxicated”. The sheriff, the judge’s uncle, arrested him and relieved him of this long bbled Colt. Around noon the next day the stranger was released but failed to reclaim his revolver. The sheriff in his later years gave this revolver to his nephew, the judge. About twenty years later, Mr. Graffenried learned the judge had passed away and contacted his widow who gifted this revolver to him and later allowed him to purchase the judge’s library. Page 40 of the book contains an overall picture and a close-up of the grip of this revolver. Pages 161 & 163 of The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, mentions that there were shorter and longer than standard bbls made by Colt and that “at least one specimen is known having a 10″ bbl and a roll-engraved, non-rebated cylinder”. He states that “any bbl lengths other than 7-1/2″ and 8″ are so rare as to be categorized as special order or experimental”. CONDITION: About fine, the bbl, cylinder, frame and back strap retain an even dark plum brown patina with some small hammer marks by the wedge opening on the right side of the bbl. The trigger guard retains 40-50% original silver plating with several small nicks and scratches on the front strap. The frame, cylinder pin, trigger guard and back strap are all matching numbered. The wedge is numbered to another revolver and, as previously noted, the cylinder and bbl are unnumbered. The grips have a couple of chips on the right bottom edge with some light hammer marks on the butt and show heavy wear with a fine hand oil patina. Mechanics need timing and are a little loose but function. The bore is bright and shiny with a few spots of scattered light pitting. An extremely rare and very desirable percussion Colt. 4-53467 JR787 (22,500-32,500) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2004 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;}