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LOT 1157
Desirable and Rare Colt Model 1860 Army Thuer Cartridge Conversion Revolver with Case - Serial no. 154425, 44 cal., 8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Offered here is a highly attractive Colt Thuer conversion Model 1860 Army revolver with presentation case. This model was manufactured in 1869-72, with total production around 5,000. The
Thuer conversion were the first Colt revolvers to utilize a metallic cartridge and are scarce and historically significant firearms. On this example London proof marks are stamped on the left side of the barrel
ahead of the wedge and on the cylinder between
the chambers. The trigger guard is iron instead of
the standard brass. Iron trigger guards are seen on those built for the British market and are generally encountered on guns featuring the Colt London barrel address. However, this Model 1860 has the one-line New York barrel address. The letter “L”, which designated revolvers destined for the London market, are stamped below or above the main matching serial numbers on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. Matching partial serial number “4425” appears on the arbor pin. The wedge is a replacement (“4561”). The cylinder and Thuer conversion ring have the
matching assembly number “42.” The cylinder lacks
a serial number. The revolver has a high polish blue finish on the barrel, cylinder, trigger guard, and back strap, casehardened loading lever, frame and hammer. “COLTS/PATENT” is stamped on the left side of the frame. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Texas navy battle scene and “COLTS PATENT NO”. “44 CAL” is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard. The Thuer conversion ring has a script “E” that denotes the eject position. The right side of the barrel lug is machined to permit front loading of the cartridge and the loading lever rammer
is threaded on the internal face, both Thuer features. The cylinder has been modified to accommodate the conversion ring. The conversion ring has the distinctive knurled turning knob, rebounding firing pin, and ejection mechanism. The partitioned case contains
a Model 1860 percussion cylinder with the number 4556 and London proofs, a 44 caliber blued iron two cavity bullet mold featuring a “COLT’S/PATENT” marked sprue cutter, lead balls, a spare hammer spring, a metal cleaning rod, an “L” shaped combination tool, two Eley Brothers cap tins, a tin of Colt Navy size 36 caliber cartridges (26/50) featuring a Colt London label, a four piece set of Thuer 44 caliber reloading tools, a loaded
44 Thuer cartridge with damaged bullet, and a 44 Thuer cartridge casing. The case features a Colt London paper label on the interior of the lid and brass inscription plaque on the exterior of the lid inscribed with the name “J.R.Morewood, Esq.”
Although J.R. Morewood remains unidentified, one possibility is John Rowland Morewood (1821-1903), who, along with his wife Sarah, was a neighbor and close friend of renowned American novelist Herman Melville. Morewood was one of two witnesses present in 1851 when Melville signed the contract with the London publisher Bentley for his best known work “Moby-Dick; or, The Whale.”