EARLY AINSWORTH COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

EARLY AINSWORTH COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 1334. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ bbl, slightly altered front sight and 1-line script letter address. Bottom of bbl, has the SN slightly off center under base pin. Left side of frame has tiny 2-line patent dates and a small “U.S.”. Left shoulder of trigger guard is marked “45 CAL” and is dbl struck. Grip is a modern replacement with a spurious “OWA” (Orville W. Ainsworth) cartouche. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver in caliber 45 Colt, blue finish with bbl length & type of stocks not listed and shipped to J.P. Moores Sons on Jan. 19, 1876 in a shipment of 50 same type revolvers. This revolver is listed in the records of the U.S. Army and shows that it was issued to Pvt. Benjamin F. Morris of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, Rough Riders, during the Spanish American War. It also shows that he was issued Krag carbine #77198. Mr. Morris was born in 1876 in Columbia, TN and moved to Raton, New Mexico, and on June 29, 1898 had traveled by train to Santa Fe to enlist in the cavalry which he apparently accomplished, and was assigned to I Troop 1st Volunteer Cavalry on July 8, 1898. He was mustered out at Camp Wikoff, NY on Sept. 15, 1898. He re-enlisted in 1899 in the infantry, Company F and was discharged on July 5, 1903. He apparently returned to New Mexico and lived in Espanola. This revolver was also the subject of an article in U.S. Martial Arms Collector and Springfield Research Newsletter, June 2010, which recounts much of the above information. The conflict in the records between Colt and the U.S. military requires additional investigation. However the presence of the caliber marking on the left shoulder of the trigger guard certainly indicates that this revolver was probably a reject or buy-back and resold on the civilian market, apparently in 1876 which would have precluded it being issued in 1898. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Overall retains about all of an extremely fine, professionally restored finish with strong orig style blue and case colors. The bbl finish is thinned on both sides at muzzle. Frame & hammer retain most of their moderately faded case colors, stronger & brighter in sheltered areas. Trigger guard & back strap retain strong blue, slightly dulled on back strap. Cylinder retains most of its fine blue with only sharp edge wear, may have been fired but if so very little. Bbl address, frame markings & all numbers appear to have been re-rolled and re-stamped. Front strap, under grip, has a welded up grip locator hole where apparently someone had mounted a set of 2-pc grips. Left side of front strap is lightly pitted. Grip is crisp retaining most of its oil finish. Timing needs adjustment, otherwise mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore. 4-40177 JR175 (4,000-7,000)

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
	2172	$3,910.00	EARLY AINSWORTH COLT CAVALRY SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 1334. Cal. 45 Colt. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ bbl, slightly altered front sight and 1-line script letter address. Bottom of bbl, has the SN slightly off center under base pin. Left side of frame has tiny 2-line patent dates and a small “U.S.”. Left shoulder of trigger guard is marked “45 CAL” and is dbl struck. Grip is a modern replacement with a spurious “OWA” (Orville W. Ainsworth) cartouche. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver in caliber 45 Colt, blue finish with bbl length & type of stocks not listed and shipped to J.P. Moores Sons on Jan. 19, 1876 in a shipment of 50 same type revolvers. This revolver is listed in the records of the U.S. Army and shows that it was issued to Pvt. Benjamin F. Morris of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, Rough Riders, during the Spanish American War. It also shows that he was issued Krag carbine #77198. Mr. Morris was born in 1876 in Columbia, TN and moved to Raton, New Mexico, and on June 29, 1898 had traveled by train to Santa Fe to enlist in the cavalry which he apparently accomplished, and was assigned to I Troop 1st Volunteer Cavalry on July 8, 1898. He was mustered out at Camp Wikoff, NY on Sept. 15, 1898. He re-enlisted in 1899 in the infantry, Company F and was discharged on July 5, 1903. He apparently returned to New Mexico and lived in Espanola. This revolver was also the subject of an article in U.S. Martial Arms Collector and Springfield Research Newsletter, June 2010, which recounts much of the above information. The conflict in the records between Colt and the U.S. military requires additional investigation. However the presence of the caliber marking on the left shoulder of the trigger guard certainly indicates that this revolver was probably a reject or buy-back and resold on the civilian market, apparently in 1876 which would have precluded it being issued in 1898. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Overall retains about all of an extremely fine, professionally restored finish with strong orig style blue and case colors. The bbl finish is thinned on both sides at muzzle. Frame & hammer retain most of their moderately faded case colors, stronger & brighter in sheltered areas. Trigger guard & back strap retain strong blue, slightly dulled on back strap. Cylinder retains most of its fine blue with only sharp edge wear, may have been fired but if so very little. Bbl address, frame markings & all numbers appear to have been re-rolled and re-stamped. Front strap, under grip, has a welded up grip locator hole where apparently someone had mounted a set of 2-pc grips. Left side of front strap is lightly pitted. Grip is crisp retaining most of its oil finish. Timing needs adjustment, otherwise mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore. 4-40177 JR175 (4,000-7,000) 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}