AINSWORTH INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

AINSWORTH INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 8287. Cal. 45 Colt. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, altered front sight that has been heightened & reshaped with 1-line script letter address. Left side of frame has small 2-line patent dates and “U.S.”. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip with last two digits of SN visible in back strap channel, the others are obscured. Left side of grip has a thin but legible “OWA” (Orville W. Anisworth) cartouche. Mr. Ainsworth’s tiny “A” inspector initials were found on the bbl, trigger guard, top of back strap & cyl. Ejector rod housing is a replacement third type while the bbl is made for a first type. Ejector rod head is half moon shape, tapered style but without the usual dimples indicating that it was probably locally made. Bbl has a tiny V-notch semi-buckhorn rear sight dovetailed into the top at the frame end and the sighting notch in the top strap has been opened up to accommodate the new rear sight. According to Cavalry and Artillery Revolvers A Continuing Study, Kopec & Fenn, this revolver falls within Lot 8 which was shipped from Springfield Armory in June 1874 to three different units; the 5th Cavalry at San Antonio, Texas, the 8th Cavalry at Fort Union, New Mexico or the 9th Cavalry at San Antonio, Texas. All three of those cavalry regiments were very active on the Southwest frontier fighting Indians for many years and undoubtedly this revolver would have seen service during that time. Accompanied by a letter from noted Colt authority and author John Kopec, wherein he notes that several relatively close serial numbers of other cavalry Colts were with the 8th Cavalry as early as June 1876. He also notes that since this revolver remains in its orig cavalry configuration that it escaped the Ordnance Dept.’s recall of 1893 and subsequent conversion to artillery configuration. He speculates that it escaped the recall because it was either lost, stolen by a deserter or captured by hostile Indians. He also notes that other revolvers escaped alteration because they were issued to one of the several state militia units. CONDITION: Good to very good. Traces of blue remain on bbl under ejector rod housing and around front sight with balance a plummy/blue/brown patina. Frame is a medium brown patina as are the trigger guard & back strap. Cylinder & ejector rod housing are a matching patina with cyl having a few small dings on a couple of lands between the flutes. Base pin & screw are modern replacements. Grip has chipped toes and shows heavy edge wear with a few small nicks & dings and retains a fine hand worn patina. Hammer is not solid in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of pin prick pitting. 4-40646 JR183 (5,000-8,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010

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
	2170	$5,750.00	AINSWORTH INSPECTED COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 8287. Cal. 45 Colt. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ bbl, altered front sight that has been heightened & reshaped with 1-line script letter address. Left side of frame has small 2-line patent dates and “U.S.”. Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip with last two digits of SN visible in back strap channel, the others are obscured. Left side of grip has a thin but legible “OWA” (Orville W. Anisworth) cartouche. Mr. Ainsworth’s tiny “A” inspector initials were found on the bbl, trigger guard, top of back strap & cyl. Ejector rod housing is a replacement third type while the bbl is made for a first type. Ejector rod head is half moon shape, tapered style but without the usual dimples indicating that it was probably locally made. Bbl has a tiny V-notch semi-buckhorn rear sight dovetailed into the top at the frame end and the sighting notch in the top strap has been opened up to accommodate the new rear sight. According to Cavalry and Artillery Revolvers A Continuing Study, Kopec & Fenn, this revolver falls within Lot 8 which was shipped from Springfield Armory in June 1874 to three different units; the 5th Cavalry at San Antonio, Texas, the 8th Cavalry at Fort Union, New Mexico or the 9th Cavalry at San Antonio, Texas. All three of those cavalry regiments were very active on the Southwest frontier fighting Indians for many years and undoubtedly this revolver would have seen service during that time. Accompanied by a letter from noted Colt authority and author John Kopec, wherein he notes that several relatively close serial numbers of other cavalry Colts were with the 8th Cavalry as early as June 1876. He also notes that since this revolver remains in its orig cavalry configuration that it escaped the Ordnance Dept.’s recall of 1893 and subsequent conversion to artillery configuration. He speculates that it escaped the recall because it was either lost, stolen by a deserter or captured by hostile Indians. He also notes that other revolvers escaped alteration because they were issued to one of the several state militia units. CONDITION: Good to very good. Traces of blue remain on bbl under ejector rod housing and around front sight with balance a plummy/blue/brown patina. Frame is a medium brown patina as are the trigger guard & back strap. Cylinder & ejector rod housing are a matching patina with cyl having a few small dings on a couple of lands between the flutes. Base pin & screw are modern replacements. Grip has chipped toes and shows heavy edge wear with a few small nicks & dings and retains a fine hand worn patina. Hammer is not solid in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of pin prick pitting. 4-40646 JR183 (5,000-8,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2010 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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