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LOT 3174
Rinaldo A. Carr Sub-Inspected U.S.
Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no.
131834, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. The
accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as sold to the U.S. Government and shipped on April 11, 1890, as part of a
100 gun shipment, to the U.S. Government Inspector located at the Colt plant, and confirms it as .45 caliber, blue finish,
with barrel length and type of grip not listed. The letter has a further remark stating that these revolvers would have been delivered
with 7 1/2 inch barrels and a walnut grip, as this was considered standard issue for the time period, and further goes on to state
that this revolver was returned to the factory for refurbishment, and again delivered to the U.S. Government Inspector at the Colt
plant on November 16, 1895. Offered is an example of a U.S. contract Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Army revolver that was inspected by Ordnance Sub-
Inspector Rinaldo A. Carr, and appears to have avoided the Artillery Model conversion in that it still has the 7 1/2 inch Cavalry barrel length (barrel numbered “1384”,
possibly a factory error). At the time of this revolvers original manufacture and delivery, Rinaldo A. Car was listed as the principal sub-inspector of the War
Department, Ordnance Office, in which he performed the physical inspection of approximately 4,000 U.S. issued Cavalry revolvers between 1889-1891 in
the recorded serial range between 130438 through 140361, with Captain Stanhope E. Blunt, inspector for the Ordnance Department, in charge of receiving
all these revolvers, per information on page 253 of “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver” (2006 printing) by Graham, Kopec, and Moore. These
were the final U.S. contracts for the Single Action Army, dated November 12, 1889, and September 19, 1890, with each of these two contracts being for
2,000 revolvers. The revolver features the standard one-line Hartford barrel address, and the frame has the three-line Colt patent markings followed by a “US”
property mark. Small stamped “R.A.C” sub-inspection initials visible on the underside of the barrel, bottom of the frame above the serial number, and side of
the cylinder. “P” proofmarks stamped on the underside of the barrel and side of the cylinder. Assembly number “382” stamped on the loading gate. Matching
visible serial numbers on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and cylinder. The left side of the grip has a partly legible “1890” date above a
bordered script letter “SEB” inspection cartouche of Captain Stanhope E. Blunt, and the right side of the grip has Sub-Inspector Rinaldo A. Carr’s script letter
“RAC” cartouche.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% restored blue finish overall with some areas of smooth brown and gray patina on the balance, and 80% refurbished vivid case colors.
Grip is very good as re-oiled, with minimal light handling marks, and legible enhanced cartouches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,000
LOT 3175
Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver
in .32-20 WCF with Factory Letter - Serial no.
125742, 32-20 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., nickel finish,
hard rubber grips. The accompanying factory letter indicates
this revolver was shipped as part of a 3 gun shipment on March
19, 1888 to Colt’s Patent Firearms Co., Hartford, Connecticut, and lists it as .32 caliber, with a 4 3/4 inch barrel,
nickel finish, and hard rubber stocks, and the letter further states, “Evidently, the above arm was used for some
special occasion as noted and was charged out to company name. Fourteen arms were shipped in various barrel lengths in
caliber 32 and 41.” Only 112 nickel finished, 4 3/4 inch barrel .32-20 WCF caliber Single Action Army revolvers falling in the 1-164100
serial number range were reportedly manufactured by Colt, per page 361 of “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver
1873-1895” (published 2008) by Wilkerson and Hoyt. The same page of that book also states, “The Winchester Repeating Arms Company
introduced a new caliber [.32-20 WCF] for their popular Model 1873 rifle in 1882. Colt would formally chamber the Single
Action Army revolver for this cartridge in 1888 with a small production run of 56 revolvers. By the early 1900’s this caliber
would be one of the most popular.” As author Dan Brown put it, “The .32-20 WCF cartridge had good range and accuracy. It is very easy to shoot, as it
does not make the revolver buck as the larger calibers do. It also was used as a companion to the Winchester rifle of the .32-20 WCF caliber,” per page
190 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army.” Features a blade front sight and top groove rear sight, with the two-line Hartford address on
top of the barrel. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking. The caliber designation “32 CAL” is stamped on the left side of the
trigger guard. Matching visible serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with assembly number “145” on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 90% original nickel plated finish with a few scattered small spots of flaking and light handling marks, with sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Grips are fair
replacements, with a proud screw, slightly loose fitting, some minor wear on the right panel, and crisp designs on the left panel. Mechanically excellent. This is a scarce example of an antique Single Action Army revolver in
.32-20 WCF!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 6,000 - 10,000
According to "The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army
Revolver 1873-1895" by Wilkerson and Hoyt, only 112 nickel
finished, 4 3/4 inch barrel .32-20 WCF caliber Colt Single Action
Army revolvers in the 1-164,100 serial number range were produced.