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LOT 149
Fine U.S. Colt Artillery Model
Single Action Army Revolver with Desirable Ainsworth Frame - Serial no.
6480, 45 Long Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips.
Originally a Cavalry Model, this revolver was refurbished by Colt to Artillery Model 1903.
These arms were brought back into service during the Spanish-American War, Filipino-American War, and Moro Rebellion.
Though nicknamed “Artillery Models,” they were actually issued to a variety of U.S. Army units and particularly known to have been
favored for use against the Moro warriors who were known to continue fighting after being shot with the weaker .38 caliber Colt double
action revolvers also in use. The revolver has mixed numbers and components typical of the Artillery variants. The Ainsworth era frame
(6480) dates to 1874 and falls in the Lot 6 serial number range (5505-6516) of 1,000 Cavalry Models issued to the 2nd, 5th, and 7th
Cavalries. Cavalry Model revolvers are know to have been carried by Custer’s 7th Cavalry at the Battle of Little Bighorn. The Battle of the
Little Bighorn occurred on June 25-26, 1876, during the Great Sioux War of 1876 (aka the Black Hills War). The “Battle of the Greasy Grass” as it
was known to Native Americans, was one of the greatest battlefield victories in Native American history and one of the worst defeats in U.S. history,
and also became famously referred to as “Custer’s Last Stand” in which Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer was killed along with every soldier of the five
companies he led. The back strap (7261) is also from the Ainsworth era. It falls into lot 7 serial number range (6517-7527). These Cavalry Models were mostly issued
to the Third Cavalry with a few late issues received by the 7th Cavalry. The trigger guard (131261) falls in the range of Cavalry Models sub-inspected by Rinaldo A.
Carr and dates to 1890. The rear face of the cylinder has Rinaldo A. Carr’s “RAC” sub-inspector initials. These initials are repeated twice on the butt of the grip. Two “P”
proofs are stamped on the barrel. The right side of the grip has the refurbishment date “1903” above a script letter “RAC” cartouche. The barrel has the serial number
“7014.” The left side of the frame carries the two-line patent dates followed by “U.S.” The top of the barrel has the one-line Hartford address.
CONDITION: Fine as Colt factory refurbished to Artillery Model configuration, retains 60% of the blue finish and 50% of the case colors with smooth brown-gray
patina on the balance. The grip is also fine with edge wear, minor handling marks, and legible date and cartouche. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Thomas Whiteman Collection.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,000
LOT 148
Excellent U.S. Colt Model 1902
“Philippine/Alaskan” Double
Action Revolver with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 49404, 45 Long Colt
cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard
rubber grips. Manufactured in 1902, the
included factory letter confirms the revolver’s
configuration, including a six inch barrel chambered for .45 caliber, blue finish,
and type of grips not listed, when sent in a shipment of 100 revolvers to the
U.S. Springfield Armory on December 29, 1902. Known by both the “Philippine”
and “Alaskan” nicknames, the U.S. Colt Model 1902 double action revolver
was a modified version of the Colt Model 1878 DA Frontier revolver with the most notable changes being an enlarged trigger guard, enlarged trigger, and
the addition of a lanyard loop to the bottom of the grip frame. Features fixed blade front and top-strap notch rear sights, one-line Colt address on top of the barrel and caliber
designation on the left, circled Rampant Colt and “R.A.C.” (Rinaldo A. Carr) inspector stamp on the left of the frame, “J.T.T.” inspector stamp along with “1902” date and “U.S.” marking on the
right of the frame, and another “R.A.C.” inspector stamp on the left of the trigger guard. Matching partial serial numbers on the loading gate and rear of the cylinder, along with an additional
“R.A.C.” inspector stamp and “P” on the rear of the cylinder. Fitted with a pair of Rampant Colt logoed checkered hard rubber grips.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 90% plus bright original blue finish along with 85% original niter blue on small parts with some minor edge wear, a few scattered minor patches of visible
spotting/freckling, thinning on the rear grip strap with the balance a grey patina, and some light handling marks. The grips are also excellent with defined logos and checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 7,000 - 10,000
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