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LOT 3362
Rare Documented Cased, British Proofed, Colt Thuer Conversion Model 1860 Army Revolver with Detachable Stock - Serial no. 156660, 44 cal., 8 inch bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock, checkered walnut grips. This is a rare example of an English proofed Colt Thuer Conversion Model 1860 Army revolver that was manufactured in 1866. The revolver has a high polish blue finish on the barrel, cylinder, back strap and iron trigger guard. The loading lever, frame and hammer have a casehardened finish. The one-piece walnut grip has English style coarse checkering. The revolver has a three-screw frame and is fitted with a walnut detachable shoulder stock with brass, silver-plated yoke and buttplate. The top of the revolver barrel is marked: “-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-” in one line. “COLTS/PATENT” is stamped in two lines on the left side of the frame and “44 CAL” is stamped on the left trigger guard shoulder. The serial number is located on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. All of the serial numbers match. The Thuer conversion ring is numbered “91”.
London “Crown V” and “Crown GP” proof and inspection marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel lug and on alternate chambers of the cylinder. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene. The stock
is serial numbered “156360/2” on the lower yoke tang and “156360” on the buttplate heel. The left side of the stock yoke is stamped “A4”. The revolver is complete with a walnut, English style case with eight compartments. The case has brass fittings, and the lid is inlaid with a small, round inscription plate. A red and black label with
the Colt Pall Mall address entitled: “DIRECTIONS FOR USING COLT’S NEW PATENT METALLIC CENTRAL FIRE CARTRIDGE REVOLVING PISTOLS.” is glued to the inside of the lid. The case is lined with green felt and contains: (1) combination screw-driver/nipple wrench, (2) blued, iron, two-cavity bullet mold stamped: “COLTS/PATENT” on the sprue cutter, (3) a tin of 250 orange label Eley percussion caps for “CENTRAL-FIRE/BREECH-LOADING CASES”, (4)
a pewter oil bottle, (5) five empty and two loaded Thuer cartridges and (6) a Thuer cartridge loading fixture. This revolver is pictured on page 168 of “The Revolver 1865-1888” by A.W.F Taylerson.
CONDITION: Fine. The revolver retains 40% of the original blue and 30% of the original casehardened finish. Most of the finish wear is concentrated on the right side of the barrel and lug, the forward portion of the
cylinder and the back strap. The cylinder retains nearly all of the roll engraved battle scene. The back of frame and hammer have large amounts of vivid case colors. The right side of the barrel lug has some minor dents surrounding the barrel wedge. The hammer, cylinder face and hammer well have no significant flash pitting, and the revolver shows minimal firing wear. The grip is fine with sharp checkering. The detachable stock has 75% of the silver plated finish on the yoke and buttplate and most of the original varnish. The stock is fine with light storage and handling wear. The case is in very good condition. There is a hairline crack in the lid, and the case exterior has been re-varnished. The green felt lining is slightly faded with oil stains and several minor tears. The interior label has two minor tears and some minor oil stains but remains in good condition. The accessories are all in fine condition. This is a rare example of a documented British cased, stocked and proofed Colt Thuer Conversion Model 1860 Army with detachable stock and accessories.
Provenance: The Norm Vegely Collection.
Estimate: 45,000 - 65,000
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK THE REVOLVER (1865-1888) BY TAYLERSON
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