EXTREMELY RARE CASED TRANSITION COLT 1860 ARMY CONVERSION CARTRIDGE REVOLVER.

EXTREMELY RARE CASED TRANSITION COLT 1860 ARMY CONVERSION CARTRIDGE REVOLVER. SN 3. Cal. 44 Colt. Nickel finish with 8″ 1860 Army bbl, orig front sight with 1-line “New-York U.S. America” address and a tiny rear sight dovetailed into the top of the bbl at cylinder end. The orig rammer slot was beautifully plugged and a 4″ ejector rod housing is attached through the lug with a screw. It has half moon ejector rod head with bull’s eye on front & rear sides. Cylinder is usual rebated 1860 configuration with Ormsby Naval battle scene and has had rear percussion face machined away leaving the extended star wheel. Frame is unmarked and neither does it have serial numbers in the usual positions. Mounted with brass trigger guard and steel back strap containing a deluxe grain walnut 1-pc grip that is numbered “3A” in pencil in the butt strap channel. A tiny number “3” is found on right side of the butt strap & trigger guard, under the grip. Number “3A” was observed on right rear face of frame under the grip with the number “3” on front face of cylinder, stamped three times on rear face of bbl lug and once on the wedge with a dot. This, undoubtedly, was a prototype or bench model for the Army conversion which was the predecessor to the Colt open-top, which led to the ultimately successful Single Action Army and is therefore an extremely important step in its evolution. Accompanied by an orig black leatherette covered cardboard casing that has a blue silk lining in lid with rope border and a diagonal red ribbon with hand written inscription “CAPT. WILL M. SMITH / CO F 161 REG. I.V.I.” The bottom of case is French fitted in brown velvet for the revolver with a cartridge block in front left side containing 50-rds of early U.S. Cartridge Co. 44 Colt ammunition. Also accompanied by a sealed box of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. 44 Colt ammunition. Box has a red & black label & band over a plaid paper covered box. This exact revolver is pictured on p. 171 in the book The Wm M. Locke Collection. Legend under photograph identifies this revolver with “no serial number” and describes the inscription on the ribbon with further information “According to a letter accompanying this gun, the gun was presented to Capt. Wm. Smith for organizing Company F of the 161st Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry at Richmond, Indiana in 1898. This company fought the entire Spanish-American War in both the Cuban and Philippines Campaigns.” Apparently the letter has been lost in history. PROVENANCE: William M. Locke Collection; Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching. Overall retains about all of its fine orig nickel finish with a few scratches and dings around wedge and a small spot or two of losses elsewhere. Face of cylinder around chambers shows evidence of having been fired with some nickel losses. Grip is sound with a few minor nicks & scratches and retains about all of its piano varnish finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. Case has a small repair around the right end of lid with some minor wear, nicks & scratches. Blue silk lining of the lid is moderately faded & soiled with a couple of water spots but is intact. Bottom is moderately faded with light soil and moderate wear. Ammunition is fine. Box of cartridges is very fine with light wear around edges and a couple of small spots of wear on top label. Band has one small crack, otherwise is completely intact. 4-36425 JR91 (50,000-85,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

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
	2023	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE CASED TRANSITION COLT 1860 ARMY CONVERSION CARTRIDGE REVOLVER. SN 3. Cal. 44 Colt. Nickel finish with 8″ 1860 Army bbl, orig front sight with 1-line “New-York U.S. America” address and a tiny rear sight dovetailed into the top of the bbl at cylinder end. The orig rammer slot was beautifully plugged and a 4″ ejector rod housing is attached through the lug with a screw. It has half moon ejector rod head with bull’s eye on front & rear sides. Cylinder is usual rebated 1860 configuration with Ormsby Naval battle scene and has had rear percussion face machined away leaving the extended star wheel. Frame is unmarked and neither does it have serial numbers in the usual positions. Mounted with brass trigger guard and steel back strap containing a deluxe grain walnut 1-pc grip that is numbered “3A” in pencil in the butt strap channel. A tiny number “3” is found on right side of the butt strap & trigger guard, under the grip. Number “3A” was observed on right rear face of frame under the grip with the number “3” on front face of cylinder, stamped three times on rear face of bbl lug and once on the wedge with a dot. This, undoubtedly, was a prototype or bench model for the Army conversion which was the predecessor to the Colt open-top, which led to the ultimately successful Single Action Army and is therefore an extremely important step in its evolution. Accompanied by an orig black leatherette covered cardboard casing that has a blue silk lining in lid with rope border and a diagonal red ribbon with hand written inscription “CAPT. WILL M. SMITH / CO F 161 REG. I.V.I.” The bottom of case is French fitted in brown velvet for the revolver with a cartridge block in front left side containing 50-rds of early U.S. Cartridge Co. 44 Colt ammunition. Also accompanied by a sealed box of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. 44 Colt ammunition. Box has a red & black label & band over a plaid paper covered box. This exact revolver is pictured on p. 171 in the book The Wm M. Locke Collection. Legend under photograph identifies this revolver with “no serial number” and describes the inscription on the ribbon with further information “According to a letter accompanying this gun, the gun was presented to Capt. Wm. Smith for organizing Company F of the 161st Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry at Richmond, Indiana in 1898. This company fought the entire Spanish-American War in both the Cuban and Philippines Campaigns.” Apparently the letter has been lost in history. PROVENANCE: William M. Locke Collection; Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching. Overall retains about all of its fine orig nickel finish with a few scratches and dings around wedge and a small spot or two of losses elsewhere. Face of cylinder around chambers shows evidence of having been fired with some nickel losses. Grip is sound with a few minor nicks & scratches and retains about all of its piano varnish finish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. Case has a small repair around the right end of lid with some minor wear, nicks & scratches. Blue silk lining of the lid is moderately faded & soiled with a couple of water spots but is intact. Bottom is moderately faded with light soil and moderate wear. Ammunition is fine. Box of cartridges is very fine with light wear around edges and a couple of small spots of wear on top label. Band has one small crack, otherwise is completely intact. 4-36425 JR91 (50,000-85,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 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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