EARLY LEWIS INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

EARLY LEWIS INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 15668. Cal. 45 Colt. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script letter address with serifs. Bottom of bbl has the last four digits of matching SN under ejector housing. Left side of frame is marked with 2-line patent dates and a small “US” slightly higher than normal. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip whose backstrap channel is obscured with oil stains. SN is in the usual places on frame, trigger guard & buttstrap with last four digits of matching SN on bbl & cyl. Ejector rod housing is 1st type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Bottom of bbl, trigger guard, top of backstrap & cyl, along with bottom right edge of grip are marked with tiny “L” (Samuel B. Lewis) sub-inspector initials. Grip has worn enough to obliterate any cartouches. This revolver was manufactured in the fourth or fifth extension of the first contract produced between Dec. 1874 and March 1875. Mr. Lewis was the second sub-inspector of Colt revolvers assigned from the Springfield Armory in Dec. 1874 to inspect 210 revolvers. He was immediately preceded by Orville W. Ainsworth and succeeded by A.P. Casey. His work is very limited and rarely encountered today. Given the production date of this revolver of 1874-75 it can readily be assumed that it was issued to a front line cavalry regiment and would have seen extensive service during the Indian Wars. How it escaped the recalls of the 1890s and early 1900 where thousands of cavalry revolvers were altered to 5-1/2″ bbl length, is unknown. But the simple fact that it remains in orig configuration is self-evident. CONDITION: Very good. No orig finish remains being an overall silver/gray patina with some mottled staining on the bbl; cyl is a smooth plummy/brown artificially aged patina with some fine pin prick pitting; trigger guard & backstrap are also a brown artificially aged patina. Grip is sound with a couple of notches on bottom left edge showing heavy wear and a handworn patina. Hammer is not solid in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bore with good shine and scattered pitting. 4-46550 (5,000-7,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

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
	1379A	$6,325.00	EARLY LEWIS INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 15668. Cal. 45 Colt. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script letter address with serifs. Bottom of bbl has the last four digits of matching SN under ejector housing. Left side of frame is marked with 2-line patent dates and a small “US” slightly higher than normal. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip whose backstrap channel is obscured with oil stains. SN is in the usual places on frame, trigger guard & buttstrap with last four digits of matching SN on bbl & cyl. Ejector rod housing is 1st type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Bottom of bbl, trigger guard, top of backstrap & cyl, along with bottom right edge of grip are marked with tiny “L” (Samuel B. Lewis) sub-inspector initials. Grip has worn enough to obliterate any cartouches. This revolver was manufactured in the fourth or fifth extension of the first contract produced between Dec. 1874 and March 1875. Mr. Lewis was the second sub-inspector of Colt revolvers assigned from the Springfield Armory in Dec. 1874 to inspect 210 revolvers. He was immediately preceded by Orville W. Ainsworth and succeeded by A.P. Casey. His work is very limited and rarely encountered today. Given the production date of this revolver of 1874-75 it can readily be assumed that it was issued to a front line cavalry regiment and would have seen extensive service during the Indian Wars. How it escaped the recalls of the 1890s and early 1900 where thousands of cavalry revolvers were altered to 5-1/2″ bbl length, is unknown. But the simple fact that it remains in orig configuration is self-evident. CONDITION: Very good. No orig finish remains being an overall silver/gray patina with some mottled staining on the bbl; cyl is a smooth plummy/brown artificially aged patina with some fine pin prick pitting; trigger guard & backstrap are also a brown artificially aged patina. Grip is sound with a couple of notches on bottom left edge showing heavy wear and a handworn patina. Hammer is not solid in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bore with good shine and scattered pitting. 4-46550 (5,000-7,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 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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