Sold for $1,800

Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium

Lot Description

Martial Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver with Factory Letter

American Civil War

.44 caliber. 8" round barrel. SN: 71988 (mfg. ca1862). Blued and color casehardened finish, brass triggerguard, one-piece oil finished walnut grip. Single action percussion revolver with three screw frame that is cut for shoulder stock, with a six-chambered smooth, round rebated cylinder, hammer nose notch rear sight and German silver blade front sight. One line barrel address reads - ADDRESS COL SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA - and lower left of frame is marked in two lines COLT'S/PATENT. Cylinder with naval engagement roll scene and marked COLT'S PATENT with the serial number and patent date as well. Matching serial numbers throughout including the wedge and grip. The shadow of a weak inspection cartouche is present on the left grip, with a fairly clear script JT (John Taylor) cartouche on the right grip.

The revolver is accompanied by a Colt Factory Letter that notes that the serial number appears twice in Colt factory records, which is not entirely uncommon during this period when duplicate serial numbers were occasionally applied. The letter indicates that the revolver was either one of 1,000 delivered to Major Calender of the St. Louis Arsenal on November 7, 1862 or one of 100 delivered to Lt. William O. Cook in Providence, RI on January 21, 1863.

From the Collection of George Oldenbourg

Condition Report

Good. Bore good, with moderate pitting and strong rifling. Metal with a moderately oxidized brownish gray patina and no finish. Frame with oxidized gray mottling that suggests hints of the original case colors. Markings mostly legible with a weak partial cylinder scene and weak cylinder markings. Mechanically functional action. Grip with moderate wear, some chipped loss at the leading and trailing edges and scattered bumps, dings and mars, with a larger area of worn chipping on the right side, near the frame junction.

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