RARE CASEY & JOHNSON DUAL INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

RARE CASEY & JOHNSON DUAL INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 17521. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script address with the correct broken letters in the “t” of “Pt”, in the “O” of “Co” and in the “A” of “HARTFORD”. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and “U.S”. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip with matching last four digits of SN in backstrap channel. Cyl is numbers “7297”. Left side of grip has a completely legible “APC” (A.P. Casey) inspector initial. Bottom of bbl & trigger guard have tiny “C” (A.P. Casey) inspector initials. The cyl, ejector housing, top of backstrap and right bottom edge of grip have “J” (W.W. Johnson) sub-inspector initials. Ejector housing is 1st type with bull’s eye ejector rod head and base pin is orig type with dimpled ends. Many of the cavalry Colts produced in this serial range in Dec. 1874 through March 1875 were issued to the reorganized 7th Cavalry in October 1876, only a few months after the Custer massacre at the Little Big Horn. Given the outstanding condition of this revolver it is likely that it was not one of the 7th Cavalry reissue pieces but probably was issued to a high ranking officer or someone of importance or possibly issued to a state militia. Regardless, it was apparently not subjected to the rigors of Indian War service on the frontier. Accompanied by a 2-page letter from renowned Colt historian, author & collector, John Kopec, who certifies to the authenticity & originality of this revolver with the exception of the replaced cylinder. He notes that the cyl in this revolver bears the number “7297” which he states belonged to cavalry revolver “17297” and it is his opinion that the cylinders were switched during a cleaning exercise. He continues that revolver #17297 was, on Dec. 3, 1900, reconfigured into an artillery revolver and refurbished at that time. He states that this cyl was not submitted for refurbishing because it was installed in this revolver. He further states that this cyl is from the same lot of 1875 revolvers which would preclude the possibility of it having been refitted at a later date. Regardless of the mismatched cyl this is an extraordinarily fine example of an Indian Wars Cavalry Colt and based on overall condition, it may be the best known example. PROVENANCE: Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching except cyl as noted. Bbl retains 97-98% strong orig blue with strong “feathers” each side of front sight; frame & hammer retain virtually all of their brilliant orig case colors with a tiny wear spot on left recoil shield and case colors turned slightly dark on the hammer; trigger guard retains most of its orig blue with some candy striping on trigger bow & frontstrap and a light scratch on front flat of trigger guard; backstrap retains virtually all of its strong orig blue with some minor candy striping and light wear on heel; ejector housing retains 96-97% strong orig blue; cyl retains 96-97% strong orig blue with sharp edge wear and a light cyl line; grip is sound with a few nicks & scratches showing light to moderate edge wear and retains most of its orig finish with a hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, probably unfired; bore & chambers of cyl retain virtually all of their orig factory blue. 4-44678 JR346 (50,000-100,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	2161	$54,625.00	RARE CASEY & JOHNSON DUAL INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 17521. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line script address with the correct broken letters in the “t” of “Pt”, in the “O” of “Co” and in the “A” of “HARTFORD”. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and “U.S”. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip with matching last four digits of SN in backstrap channel. Cyl is numbers “7297”. Left side of grip has a completely legible “APC” (A.P. Casey) inspector initial. Bottom of bbl & trigger guard have tiny “C” (A.P. Casey) inspector initials. The cyl, ejector housing, top of backstrap and right bottom edge of grip have “J” (W.W. Johnson) sub-inspector initials. Ejector housing is 1st type with bull’s eye ejector rod head and base pin is orig type with dimpled ends. Many of the cavalry Colts produced in this serial range in Dec. 1874 through March 1875 were issued to the reorganized 7th Cavalry in October 1876, only a few months after the Custer massacre at the Little Big Horn. Given the outstanding condition of this revolver it is likely that it was not one of the 7th Cavalry reissue pieces but probably was issued to a high ranking officer or someone of importance or possibly issued to a state militia. Regardless, it was apparently not subjected to the rigors of Indian War service on the frontier. Accompanied by a 2-page letter from renowned Colt historian, author & collector, John Kopec, who certifies to the authenticity & originality of this revolver with the exception of the replaced cylinder. He notes that the cyl in this revolver bears the number “7297” which he states belonged to cavalry revolver “17297” and it is his opinion that the cylinders were switched during a cleaning exercise. He continues that revolver #17297 was, on Dec. 3, 1900, reconfigured into an artillery revolver and refurbished at that time. He states that this cyl was not submitted for refurbishing because it was installed in this revolver. He further states that this cyl is from the same lot of 1875 revolvers which would preclude the possibility of it having been refitted at a later date. Regardless of the mismatched cyl this is an extraordinarily fine example of an Indian Wars Cavalry Colt and based on overall condition, it may be the best known example. PROVENANCE: Wes Adams Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching except cyl as noted. Bbl retains 97-98% strong orig blue with strong “feathers” each side of front sight; frame & hammer retain virtually all of their brilliant orig case colors with a tiny wear spot on left recoil shield and case colors turned slightly dark on the hammer; trigger guard retains most of its orig blue with some candy striping on trigger bow & frontstrap and a light scratch on front flat of trigger guard; backstrap retains virtually all of its strong orig blue with some minor candy striping and light wear on heel; ejector housing retains 96-97% strong orig blue; cyl retains 96-97% strong orig blue with sharp edge wear and a light cyl line; grip is sound with a few nicks & scratches showing light to moderate edge wear and retains most of its orig finish with a hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, probably unfired; bore & chambers of cyl retain virtually all of their orig factory blue. 4-44678 JR346 (50,000-100,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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