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LOT 3184
Desirable Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Rare
Attachable Skeleton Carbine Stock - Serial no. 66512, 45
Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips.
This Colt Single Action Army revolver was manufactured in 1881 and
includes the rare attachable skeleton carbine stock. These rare stocks
were offered as accessories, and there are no known records for how
many, if any, were sold directly with Single Action Army revolvers. Records and examples are
discussed in “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolvers” (p. 8, 12, and 50) demonstrate
that these stocks were particularly popular in England. Two lengths of the skeletonized stock
as well as additional extended frame screws were shipped to Colt’s dealers in England in the
mid-1870s. This revolver has the standard finish with blued barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and
back strap and color casehardened frame, loading gate and hammer. The one-piece grip is walnut with a varnished
finish. The frame is fitted with extended hammer screws to engage the stock hooks. The revolver has the early “bullseye” ejector rod tip and hammer with
bordered knurling on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: “COLTS PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” in one line. The left side of the frame is
roll-stamped with the Colt three-date/three-line’ patent markings. “45 CAL” is stamped on the left front trigger guard bow. The assembly number “362” is
stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial
number “6512” is stamped on the underside of the barrel beneath the ejector housing and on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers
match. A small, block letter “P” is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. A Colt “C” sub-inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well above the firing
pin hole. The attachable stock has a nickel-plated finish with blued adjustment nut.
CONDITION: Very good plus. The revolver has a smooth, silver-gray patina with traces of blue and casehardened finish visible in protected areas. The grips
are good overall with scattered handling marks and retain patches of the original varnish finish. The serial numbers and markings on the barrel, frame and
trigger guard are sharp. The action is tight and functions well. The rare attachable stock is very fine and retains 75% of the original nickel-plated finish. The
adjustment nut has a dark patina finish with some scattered pitting. This is a desirable example of an 1881 production Colt Single Action Army revolver
with rare attachable skeleton carbine stock.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
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