RARE EARLY COLT MODEL 1871-72 OPEN TOP REVOLVER.

RARE EARLY COLT MODEL 1871-72 OPEN TOP REVOLVER. SN 11. Cal. 44 RF. Very early open top, blue & color case hardened with scarce 8″ rnd bbl, iron front sight with fixed rear sight integral with the bbl like the earlier Richards Mason conversion. Top of bbl has 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Right side of bbl lug is mounted with an ejector housing with smooth ejector rod head. Left side of frame is marked with a small “COLTS PATENT” and the caliber marking does not appear on left shoulder of trigger guard. Cyl is usual 6-shots with Ormsby Naval Battle scene roll marking. Trigger guard & backstrap are blued steel and contain a Navy-sized varnished 1-pc walnut grip that may be a replacement. Grip is made in three pieces with the outer panels glued to a spacer block. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only about 7,000 of these rare revolvers produced in the period 1872-1873 and were the direct predecessors to the famous single action Army revolver. Of that number only about the first 1,000 had “COLTS PATENT” on the frame, which was later changed to 2-line patent dates. The hammer was converted by the addition of a rimfire firing pin to the hammer nose, secured with two lateral rivets. Most unusually the cyl arbor is color case hardened. This revolver succeeded the previous Richards and Richards Mason conversions and was manufactured as a cartridge revolver at a time when large bore sidearms were in great demand for the Great Westward Expansion. These revolvers generally saw very hard and continuous service on the American Frontier, usually under adverse circumstances with very limited or no maintenance and are rarely found with any orig finish. PROVENANCE: Dr. John & Margaret Pickup Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except grip, as noted. Bbl & ejector housing retain a smooth plummy blue/brown patina with a couple of minor chemical spots on bottom of bbl lug; frame retains about 75% faded case colors and the hammer bright case colors, faded to gray on top & rear edges; left side of frame has a hairline crack by the trigger screw hole; cyl retains a smooth blue/gray patina and overall shows about 80% Ormsby Naval Battle scene; trigger guard & backstrap retain blue in sheltered areas with front strap and center of backstrap a gray metal patina. Grip is sound showing light edge wear and retains most of its glossy varnish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bore lightly pitted in the grooves. 4-46472 (20,000-30,000)

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
	1476	$20,125.00	RARE EARLY COLT MODEL 1871-72 OPEN TOP REVOLVER. SN 11. Cal. 44 RF. Very early open top, blue & color case hardened with scarce 8″ rnd bbl, iron front sight with fixed rear sight integral with the bbl like the earlier Richards Mason conversion. Top of bbl has 1-line New-York U.S. America address. Right side of bbl lug is mounted with an ejector housing with smooth ejector rod head. Left side of frame is marked with a small “COLTS PATENT” and the caliber marking does not appear on left shoulder of trigger guard. Cyl is usual 6-shots with Ormsby Naval Battle scene roll marking. Trigger guard & backstrap are blued steel and contain a Navy-sized varnished 1-pc walnut grip that may be a replacement. Grip is made in three pieces with the outer panels glued to a spacer block. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only about 7,000 of these rare revolvers produced in the period 1872-1873 and were the direct predecessors to the famous single action Army revolver. Of that number only about the first 1,000 had “COLTS PATENT” on the frame, which was later changed to 2-line patent dates. The hammer was converted by the addition of a rimfire firing pin to the hammer nose, secured with two lateral rivets. Most unusually the cyl arbor is color case hardened. This revolver succeeded the previous Richards and Richards Mason conversions and was manufactured as a cartridge revolver at a time when large bore sidearms were in great demand for the Great Westward Expansion. These revolvers generally saw very hard and continuous service on the American Frontier, usually under adverse circumstances with very limited or no maintenance and are rarely found with any orig finish. PROVENANCE: Dr. John & Margaret Pickup Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except grip, as noted. Bbl & ejector housing retain a smooth plummy blue/brown patina with a couple of minor chemical spots on bottom of bbl lug; frame retains about 75% faded case colors and the hammer bright case colors, faded to gray on top & rear edges; left side of frame has a hairline crack by the trigger screw hole; cyl retains a smooth blue/gray patina and overall shows about 80% Ormsby Naval Battle scene; trigger guard & backstrap retain blue in sheltered areas with front strap and center of backstrap a gray metal patina. Grip is sound showing light edge wear and retains most of its glossy varnish. Mechanics are crisp, strong bore lightly pitted in the grooves. 4-46472 (20,000-30,000) 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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