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LOT 283
Fine Colt Model 1851 Navy Richards-Mason
Conversion Revolver - Serial no. 228, 38 RF cal., 7 1/2
inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish,
varnished walnut grips. Approximately 3,800 of
these were manufactured at the Colt factory in the
mid-1870s for use with metallic cartridges, utilizing
previously unassembled and unfinished Model 1851 Navy parts, per
“Flayderman’s Guide” (9th Edition, 5B-121). The barrel is marked
with the one-line New York address and has had the loading
lever removed, with the holes partially plugged, and an ejector
rod with housing factory added to the right. The cylinder has
the Texas Navy battle scene, with a conversion breech plate,
loading gate and rimfire hammer. “COLTS/PATENT” marked on
the left of the frame. Matching visible serial numbers marked
on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, and cylinder, with
assembly number “458” marked on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 20% bright original high polish blue
finish concentrated mostly in protected areas with smooth brown patina on the balance,
50% vibrant original case colors, 20% original silver plating concentrated around the front
of the trigger guard and at the top of the backstrap, attractive bright golden patina on the
exposed brass, with crisp markings and cylinder scene. Grip is also fine, with tight fitment,
some light dents and scratches, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Doug Carlson; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,500
LOT 284
Scarce U.S. Navy Inspected Richards-Mason
Conversion Colt Model 1861 Navy Revolver - Serial
no. 3128, 38 CF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut grips. Approximately 2,200 Model 1861 Navy revolvers were
converted to the Richards-Mason system c. mid-1870s, with per
“Flayderman’s Guide” (9th Edition, 5B-124, 5B-125, 5B-126). “Most of the
percussion serial series revolvers were returned to Colt’s by the U.S. Navy in
1873, 1875, and 1876, for alteration on contract; they total about 1,000,” according to page 226 of
“The Book of Colt Firearms” (1971 publication) by Sutherland and Wilson. These were used by the
U.S. Navy through the late 19th century before being replaced by the Colt Model 1889 Navy and
New Navy revolvers. It features inspection initials “R.W.M.(Navy anchor).” of U.S. Navy Commander
Richard W. Meade marked underneath the barrel. German silver blade
front sight, the top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line Colt New
York address, with “-PAT. JULY.25. 1871-/-PAT.JULY. 2. 1872.-” two-line patent
markings on the left of the frame, the cylinder is engraved with the Texas
naval battle scene. Matching visible serial numbers on the cylinder, barrel,
frame, trigger guard and back strap, with the number “56957” also marked
on the cylinder. The revolver has the distinctive plug in the loading lever
hole of the barrel lug, ejector housing screw on the left side of the barrel lug and loading gate spring screwed
to the frame above the trigger screw.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 50% blue finish on the barrel and ejector rod housing, vivid patterns of case colors on the
frame and hammer, bright golden patina on the brass, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance of the iron with a
few patches of light pitting, and a mostly defined cylinder scene. Grip is a very good replacement, slightly undersized,
with dents and scratches, and defined edges. Half absent head on the retaining screw for the loading gate spring.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 282
Fine Colt 3 1/2 Inch Round Barrel
Pocket Conversion Revolver without
Ejector - Serial no. 316879, 38 CF cal., 3
1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish,
walnut grips. This is an example of approximately
10,000 revolvers of this type built using a mix of
converted on-hand parts from the Model 1849 Pocket,
1862 Police, and Pocket Navy revolvers along with newly
manufactured components c. 1873-1880, per “Flayderman’s Guide” (9th Edition,
5B-132). These handy revolvers were popular in both the urban centers of the east
as well as on the western frontier due to their portable and concealable firepower.
It features a 3 1/2 inch round barrel with the two-line Hartford address marked on
top, two-line 1871 and 1872 patent dates marked on left of the frame, no ejector,
and no barrel lug plug as the barrels were specifically manufactured for this model and not altered
from percussion model surplus. The cylinder has the stagecoach scene, and the conversion breech plate
correctly lacks a loading gate. Matching visible serial numbers on the barrel, frame, trigger guard,
back strap, and cylinder.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% plus bright original blue finish on the barrel and cylinder with smooth
brown patina on the balance, 90% plus vivid original case colors on the hammer and frame, and 30%
original silver plated finish concentrated mostly around the trigger guard with attractive bright golden
patina on the exposed brass, and a defined cylinder scene. Grip is very fine with tight fitment, a few minor
handling marks, and crisp edges. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 281
Colt Model 1860 Army
Richards Conversion Revolver with Scarce 12-Stop
Cylinder - Serial no. 1488, 44 Colt CF cal., 8 inch round bbl.,
blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. Approximately 9,000 Model
1860 Army revolvers were converted to the Richards system by Colt c. 1871-1878, and
this is one of only a very small number of the early production revolvers that utilized
12-stop cylinders, per “Flayderman’s Guide” (9th Edition, 5B-117). This variation was
short lived, as the stops left the chamber walls too thin and often wore through. This
example is part of a separate approximate serial range 1-8700 made with some new parts and some
surplus components, with others found within the standard Model 1860 Army approximate serial range
167000-200600. Designed by Charles Brinckerhoff Richards (1835-1919), one of the co-designers of the
famous Colt Single Action Army, Richards revolvers were an important stepping stone to the Single Action
Army and many saw intense use on the western frontier. They feature a breech plate with an integral
notch rear sight and a floating firing pin instead of using a hammer mounted firing pin. An ejector rod
housing is fitted to the right side of the barrel and a filler slot in place of the loading lever. German silver
blade front sight, one-line New York address marked on top of the barrel, “COLTS/PATENT” on the left of
the frame, Texas Battle of Campeche Navy scene on the cylinder, matching visible full serial number on
the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and butt, with matching “488” on the cylinder, and assembly number
“238” on the conversion plate and loading gate.
CONDITION: Very good with authentic frontier character, retains 20% bright original high polish blue
finish with smooth gray patina and scattered freckling on the balance, some mild pitting concentrated
towards the muzzle, 30% original silver plating concentrated around the trigger guard, attractive bright
golden patina on the exposed brass, with defined markings and cylinder scene. Grip is good, with well
weathered, general western wear. Two of the cylinder stops have small open holes.
Mechanically functions.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000