Sold for $9,600
.45 Colt. 7.5" round barrel. SN: 84160 (mfg. ca1882). Blued and color casehardened finish, one piece smooth oil finished walnut grip. Single action cartridge revolver with "black powder frame" and six-shot fluted cylinder. Barrel marked in a single line with the correct Type IV "Elongated Block Letter" address which reads: - COLT'S PT. F.A. Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. - Lower left of frame marked with the correct "three date in three line" patent information and a clearly stamped U.S. The correct small DFC sub-inspection mark of David F Clark appears on the bottom of the barrel, on the bottom of the frame, on the cylinder, and on the bottom of the grip. Correct "P" proofs are present on the bottom of the barrel and the side of the cylinder. All numbers match throughout, with the cylinder bearing the correctly abbreviated number 4160. The loading gate is assembly numbered 2621. The grip shows weak remnants of the script JEG (Captain John E Greer) cartouche under the date 1882 on the left side and a similarly worn DFC cartouche on the right side, the mark of David F Clark. The revolver retains the correct second pattern ejector rod housing and bullseye ejector rod head. The hammer is of the correct type with military checking on the spur and the correct cone shaped firing pin. The revolver is accompanied by a 2012 dated "Gold Seal" letter from John Kopec confirming that the gun is 100% complete and correct in every way. Kopec's research did not find the gun's serial number in any existing documents but noted that a number of South Carolina militia guns are known in this serial number range and that could explain the gun's survival in its original cavalry configuration and how it escaped being altered to an "artillery" revolver. A solid example of a real Indian Wars era single action that has not been messed with or "helped" in any way and that remains complete and correct with nothing to apologize for or explain.
Very good. Bore very good, partly bright with fine black powder rifling. Metal with no finish to speak of and moderately oxidized mottled brownish gray patina with some tiny hints of original color in the most protected recesses. Markings remain clear and visible in the metal, weaker in the wood. Mechanically functional with a weak or damaged hand spring that does not always correctly advance and time the cylinder, but typically works correctly if the muzzle is oriented downward. Hammer with four crisp "clicks" when cocked. Cylinder arbor pin with some tool marks and minor damage to the end. Grip very good with some wear, leaving the cartouches soft, but showing no signs of having been sanded. Grip with good edges, some minor nicks to the leading and trailing sharp edges and some scattered impact marks. A really nice and correct example of a Colt Cavalry Single Action Army.