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Near Impossible to Improve Upon
The distinctive, block letter “H.N.” inspection marks of Ordnance Sub- CONDITION: Excellent plus, as issued. The revolver retains 98% plus of Inspector Henry Nettleton are boldly stamped on the left side of the the original blue/casehardened finish and, as the Kopec letter states,
hammer, underside of the barrel, bottom or the frame above the
serial number, trigger guard below the serial number and side of the cylinder. A block “N” is stamped on the right heel of the grip and on the barrel below the ejector housing stud. “P” proofmarks are stamped on the side of the cylinder and on the bottom of the barrel ahead
of the “H.N.” mark. A crisp “US” property mark is stamped on the left side of the frame. The left side of the grip is stamped with the date “1878” above the Ordnance final inspection mark which consists of
the script initials “JEG” (Ordnance Inspector Capt. John E. Greer) with
an oval border. The lower right side of the grip is boldly stamped with the Ordnance sub-inspection mark which consists of the script initials “HN” within an oval. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the third style, “bold block letter” address “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” This address features a broken “T” in “PT” and has double lines under the “o” in Co.” The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three-line/three-date patent markings. The assembly number “765” is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. A Colt “S” inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well, and “C” and “G” are stamped on the barrel below the ejector housing stud. The rear face of the cylinder is stamped with a block “P” and block “H”. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number “8867” is stamped on the barrel beneath the ejector housing and on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match.
is “totally correct in all respects”. The barrel shows traces of edge wear at the muzzle and several faint storage scratches along the right side. The ejector housing has some very minor wear on the front edge. The cylinder has light turn marks between the stops, traces of finish wear on the front edges and flutes and some very insignificant spots of finish discoloration between two of the flutes. The trigger guard has the “feathered” polishing marks on either side of the bow; wear
is limited to several very faint storage marks on the grip strap. The back strap has some minor finish loss on the bottom edge. The frame, hammer and loading gate retain nearly all of the fiery case colors. Nearly all of the niter blue finish is present on the trigger and screws. All of the Colt and Ordnance inspection marks are extremely crisp. The action functions perfectly. The grip is in exceptional condition; nearly all of the original oil finish remains, the surface is almost completely free of handling and storage marks, and the “1878” date, “GEG” final inspection mark and “HN” sub-inspection mark are nearly perfect.
This is an outstanding example of an as-issued Henry Nettleton sub- inspected, U.S. contract Colt Single Action revolver that would be almost impossible to upgrade.
Provenance: The Corner Stone Collection.
Estimate: 110,000 - 190,000
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