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LOT 161
Excellent Cased Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 183220, 44 cal., 8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This late production Colt Model 1860 Army revolver was manufactured in 1869 and remains in exceptionally high condition. Although this model was manufactured in large numbers for the Civil War, only a small percentage of them remain in excellent
original condition since so many saw use in the Civil War and the Old West. This revolver has a three-screw frame and eight inch barrel. The barrel has a nickel-
silver front sight blade, and the hammer has the rear sight groove and bordered knurling on the spur. The barrel, cylinder, and back strap have the Colt high
polish commercial blue finish. The loading lever, frame, and hammer are color casehardened. The brass trigger guard is silver plated. The one-piece walnut grip
has a varnished “piano” finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped “-ADDRESS COL. SAML. COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-” in one line. The left side of the
frame is roll-stamped “COLTS/PATENT” in two lines. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Naval Battle of Campeche scene. “44 CAL” is stamped on the left
shoulder of the trigger guard. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The cylinder is stamped
with the correct partial serial number “220”. All of the visible serial numbers match. The revolver is in a Colt style case with five compartments and wine colored lining. The case contains: an Eely Bros. cap tin, Colt patent powder
flask with adjustable charger, package for six cartridges, mix of lead balls and conical bullets, and a blued dual-cavity bullet mold stamped “44H”
followed by a smaller “H” on the right and “COLT’S/PATENT” on the sprue cutter.
CONDITION: Excellent. 95% of the vibrant original case colors remain. 80% of the original bright blue finish remains with fading mainly on the
cylinder and back strap along with some light scratches. The cylinder scene is distinct, and the safety pins and nipples are all excellent. The trigger guard retains 25% of the original, age darkened silver
plating which is concentrated towards the front and has attractive aged patina on the exposed brass. The grip is also excellent and has nearly all of the original varnish and minimal light handling
and storage wear. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine and has moderate age and storage related wear including one of the
dividers detached, some loss of the raised border around the interior, and staining and fading of the lining. The cartridge pack
is partially open, and the cartridges within are spilling. The other accessories are very fine with minor age and storage related
wear and strong original blue finish on the mold. Overall,
this is a very attractive cased set. This revolver appears to have never seen use and to have minimal wear mainly
from age.
Provenance:
The Norm Vegely Collection.
Estimate: 30,000 - 45,000