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LOT 1208
Outstanding Civil War U.S. Contract Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver with
Factory Letter and Skin Pack - Serial no. 114117, 44 cal., 8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, cartouched walnut grips. This exceptional U.S. contract Colt Model 1860 Army revolver was
manufactured in 1863, and is a classic Civil War production example. It is accompanied by a Colt
factory letter which lists it as .44 caliber, barrel length not listed, blue/brass finish, and wood grips
when shipped on April 28, 1863 to the U.S. Government at New York Arsenal, Governor’s Island, New
York as part of a 1,000 gun shipment. The Colt Model 1860 Army was the primary revolver used by
the Union during the American Civil War, with many used thereafter out west. Over 150,000 were
manufactured and approximately 125,000 were delivered on Union contracts before the Colt factory
fire of 1864. Considering the Colt Model 1860 Army revolver was in such high demand as issued for the
war effort, with many seeing hard use, it is extremely uncommon to come across a surviving specimen
that remains in an exceptional state of condition like this example offered, which appears to have seen
minimal use. This standard type example has the three-screw frame, with the notch in the heel of the butt of the backstrap. It has
single letter inspection stamps on various components including a “D” on the bottom right surface of the grip, crisp boxed script
“ABB” and “JT” (John Taylor) inspection cartouches stamped on both sides of the grip, and full and partial matching serial numbers
marked on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, wedge, cylinder, cylinder pin, and correctly handwritten in blank ink inside the
grip channel. Includes a sealed D.C. Sage & Co. package of six “seamless skin” .44 caliber skin cartridges.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% plus original blue finish
on the barrel, 75% plus original blue finish on the cylinder,
98% vivid original case colors, 98% original blue finish
on the backstrap, highly attractive untouched original
bright golden patina on the brass, a few areas of very
minor scattered surface freckling and handling marks, and
absolutely sharp cylinder scene, markings and edges in the
metal overall. Grip is also excellent with rich oil finish and
grain, distinct edges, tight fitment, a few minor handling
marks, and exceptionally crisp cartouches. Mechanically
excellent. This high condition Colt Model 1860 Army
revolver would make an outstanding addition to any Civil
War or Colt collection!
Provenance: The Anthony Stone Collection; The Robert
Howard Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 40,000 - 60,000
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